Patent Publication Number: US-2023155970-A1

Title: System and method for inmate notification and training in a controlled environment facility

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 16/987,226 filed on Aug. 6, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. Application No. 15/592,944 filed on May 11, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,749,827, issued Aug. 18, 2020, which are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     This disclosure relates to disseminating information, such as notifications and announcements to inmates of a controlled environment facility. 
     Background 
     Inmates of prisons or other controlled environment facilities live under very controlled conditions, and their access to information from both inside and outside the prison is often limited. However, many situations arise in which prison officials desire to disseminate certain information to the inmates. As of currently, that information is passed along in rather inconvenient and inaccurate ways, such as word of mouth or PA announcements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES 
       The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the disclosure and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the embodiments. 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary controlled environment communication system, according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary messaging center of the exemplary controlled environment communication system of  FIG.  1   , according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary site server for use in the exemplary controlled environment communication system of  FIG.  1   , according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an exemplary data table for use with the exemplary messaging center of  FIG.  2   , according to embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    illustrates a flowchart diagram of an exemplary method for disseminating a notification to one or more inmates of a controlled environment facility. 
         FIG.  6    illustrates a block diagram of computer system. 
     
    
    
     The present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following Detailed Description refers to accompanying drawings to illustrate exemplary embodiments consistent with the disclosure. References in the Detailed Description to “one exemplary embodiment,” “an exemplary embodiment,” “an example exemplary embodiment,” etc., indicate that the exemplary embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every exemplary embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same exemplary embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an exemplary embodiment, it is within the knowledge of those skilled in the relevant art(s) to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other exemplary embodiments whether or not explicitly described. 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein are provided for illustrative purposes, and are not limiting. Other exemplary embodiments are possible, and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments within the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, the Detailed Description is not meant to limit the disclosure. Rather, the scope of the disclosure is defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
     Embodiments may be implemented in hardware (e.g., circuits), firmware, software, or any combination thereof. Embodiments may also be implemented as instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be read and executed by one or more processors. A machine-readable medium may include any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computing device). For example, a machine-readable medium may include read only memory (ROM); random access memory (RAM); magnetic disk storage media; optical storage media; flash memory devices; electrical, optical, acoustical or other forms of propagated signals (e.g., carrier waves, infrared signals, digital signals, etc.), and others. Further, firmware, software, routines, instructions may be described herein as performing certain actions. However, it should be appreciated that such descriptions are merely for convenience and that such actions in fact result from computing devices, processors, controllers, or other devices executing the firmware, software, routines, instructions, etc. Further, any of the implementation variations may be carried out by a general purpose computer, as described below. 
     For purposes of this discussion, any reference to the term “module” shall be understood to include at least one of software, firmware, and hardware (such as one or more circuit, microchip, or device, or any combination thereof), and any combination thereof. In addition, it will be understood that each module may include one, or more than one, component within an actual device, and each component that forms a part of the described module may function either cooperatively or independently of any other component forming a part of the module. Conversely, multiple modules described herein may represent a single component within an actual device. Further, components within a module may be in a single device or distributed among multiple devices in a wired or wireless manner. 
     The following Detailed Description of the exemplary embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the disclosure that others can, by applying knowledge of those skilled in relevant art(s), readily modify and/or customize for various applications such exemplary embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Therefore, such modifications are intended to be within the meaning and plurality of equivalents of the exemplary embodiments based upon the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by those skilled in relevant art(s) in light of the teachings herein. 
     As discussed above, there are currently insufficient means of disseminating information to inmates within controlled facilities. This is partially due to the traditional communications limitations within prison facilities. Because of substantial security concerns, inmates of such facilities were traditionally limited to placing calls at highly-monitored central telephone banks in the facility, and their access to the Internet was completely prohibited. However, recent technological advancements have allowed for inmates of secure facilities to be assigned wireless communication devices, such as that described in U.S. Pat. Application No. 13,946,637, entitled Multifunction Wireless Device, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     With the advent of these new communication capabilities, controlled environment facilities have significant new communications lines available between administrators and the inmates. Thus, it is conceived that those devices be used as a means for facilitating better and more direct communication with inmates for purposes of information dissemination. Systems and methods for carrying out these objections will be described herein for carrying out those objectives. 
     Exemplary Communication System 
       FIG.  1    illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary controlled environment communication system  100 , according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The communication system includes a central communication server  150  connected to a plurality of different controlled environment facilities  101 . The central communication server  150  performs the call and other communications data processing for the different facilities, including routing and monitoring calls, Internet activity, and video calling, etc. In an embodiment, the central communication server  150  is centrally located from the multiple controlled environment facilities. In another embodiment, the central communication server  150  is located on site at one of the controlled environment facilities  101 . The central communication server  150  also includes a messaging center  155  for processing incoming and outgoing messages or other notifications to the inmate population. 
     In an embodiment, an exemplary controlled environment facility includes a site server  140  that handles internal call processing and routing. In an alternative embodiment, the site server  140  is located remotely from the facility, such as within the central communication server  150 . Such processing primarily includes routing call data from the central communication server  150  to its respective destination telephone device. A telephone bank  130  and a router  120  are in communication with the site server  140  for receiving call data from the site server  140 . The telephone bank  130  serves a plurality of hardwired telephones  102 . These phones may be VoIP, POTS, or other telephone devices capable of communication with the site server  140  over a telephone or data communication line. Meanwhile, the router  120  includes one or more antenna  125  for wirelessly communicating with one or more wireless communication devices  104  assigned to the different inmates and/or prison personnel associated with the facility. An on-site administrative terminal  145  is also connected to the site server to allow for an authorized individual to send a notification or other message, and/or access the central communication server  150 . 
     Multiple other controlled environment facilities  101  are connected to the central communication server  150 . Those facilities  101  may have the same or similar configurations to the exemplary controlled environment facility  101 A. Also connected with the central communication server  150  is an administrative terminal  170 , a database  157 , and a network  160 . In an embodiment, the administrative terminal  170  is an on-site computer terminal, accessible by an authorized administrator, and with control capabilities of the central communication server  150 . In an embodiment, the database  157  is a separate database located remotely from the central communication server  150 , and stores numerous different types of call and administrative data relating to one or more of the controlled environment facilities  101 . In an embodiment, the network  160  is a public network for communicating across telephone or other communication lines to outside parties, such as the public switched telephone network (PSTN). 
     In operation, a pre-registered individual attempts to access the messaging center  155  via either the on-site administrative terminal  145  or the administrative terminal  170 . If the individual has not yet been registered, the individual must undergo a registration process to register certain identifying information of the individual along with authentication information, such as a PIN or biometric sample associated with the individual. The registration information is stored in the database  157  along with messaging permissions. At some point before the individual submits a message, the individual is prompted to identify themselves, after which an authentication of the individual occurs. The individual may identify themselves using a PIN or a biometric submission, such as a fingerprint, voice sample, facial scan, etc. The administrative terminal  145 / 170  forwards the received information to the central communication server  150  for authentication. 
     The central communication server  150  uses the received identifying information to locate a user record in the database with matching identifying information. Once retrieved, biometric authentication is performed by performing a statistical comparison of the received biometric identification to the previously-stored biometric information. Based on the comparison, the central communication server  150  authenticates the individual. After the user has been authenticated, the central communication server  150  returns a notification to the corresponding terminal that the individual has been authenticated along with the individual’s messaging permissions based on the retrieved user record. Summarily, the messaging permissions identify whether the individual is permitted to submit messages with or without approval, and for which inmates. 
     After the user has been authenticated, the user submits a message via an interface associated with the corresponding administrative terminal  145 / 170  along with an identification of recipient inmates. In an embodiment, the recipient inmates are identified as a group, such as by location or status. The terminal  145 / 170  transmits the message and recipient information to the central communication server  150 , where it is received by the messaging center  155 . The messaging center  155  processes the received recipient information and transmits the received message over the various communication lines to the identified recipients. Further details regarding the message processing and transmission is described below. 
     Exemplary Messaging Center 
       FIG.  2    illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary messaging center  200  of the exemplary controlled environment communication system  100  of  FIG.  1   , according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The messaging center  200  includes message input  210 , message packaging  220 , message transmitter  230 , and message authorization  240 , and may represent an exemplary embodiment of the messaging center  150 , illustrated in  FIG.  1   . 
     In an embodiment, the messaging center  200  receives the message from the user at message input  210 . As discussed above, the message is received from the user via one of the administrative terminals  145 / 170 , through the central communication system  150 . In another embodiment, the user sends the message information from a separate device, such as a personal wireless device or personal computer workstation. At the message input  210  of the messaging center  200 , the message is received with all necessary information for proper delivery, including the message itself as well as intended recipient information, such as inmate group, facility, district, etc. 
     The message input  210  forwards the received information to the message packaging  220 . Message packaging  220  reviews the destination information received with the message and accesses a database to review transmission protocols for the intended destination. For example, many facilities may have specific transfer protocols, message formats, etc. These protocols are stored in the message packaging  220 , or in database  157  accessed by the message packaging  220 . After the message protocols are retrieved by the message packaging  220 , message packaging formats the relevant information into the appropriate format dictated by the retrieved format information for transmission. To provide an example, a particular facility may provide a certain number of leading bits in the message for the inmate designation, and may also designate how different inmate groups are to be referenced within the encoded message. Based on the this information, message packing assigns the relevant inmate group code based on the destination information within the message, and then organizes the destination information and the message information into the final encoded message for transmission. 
     In an embodiment, message packaging  220  also utilizes the user information received in the received message to determine permissions. In other words, using the user information associated with the received message, message packaging  220  checks the database  157  to determine the permission level associated with the user. Certain users are granted different messaging permissions. In an embodiment, there are three levels of permissions, including full, limited, and none. Full permissions allow for messages to be transmitted without review or authorization, limited permissions allow for messages to be transmitted after authorization from a registered user with full permissions to the destination, and those with no permissions are prohibited from sending messages to the destination. For example, the warden of a particular facility is granted full permissions for that facility, but limited permissions for all other facilities within the district, and no permissions for other facilities in the state. Meanwhile, an administrator with the state department of corrections may be provided full permissions for all facilities in the state. In embodiments, the permissions are broken down by inmate groups within facilities, or even individual inmates within facilities. 
     If the message packaging  220  determines from the user information and the permissions data retrieved from the database that the user has no permissions to the destination information included in the received message information, the message packaging denies transmission of the message. If the message packaging  220  determines that the user has full permissions, the message packaging  220  packages the message for transmission to the destination. If the message packaging  220  determines that the user has limited permissions, message packaging controls message authorization  240  to contact a predesignated authorized person to authorize the message. The message authorization  240  returns a “authorized” or “not authorized”. If the message authorization  240  returns “authorized”, the message packaging  220  proceeds to package and forward the message for transmission. On the other hand, if the message authorization  240  returns “not authorized,” message packaging declines to send the message. 
     The message transmitter  230  receives the packaged message from message packaging  220 , and then transmits the packaged message to the relevant facility designated in the message. In an embodiment, the facility is designated in the packaged message by an IP address or other network address. 
     Site Server 
       FIG.  3    illustrates an exemplary site server  300  according to an embodiment. The site server  300  includes a message receiver  310 , message parsing  320 , and notification  330 , and may represent an exemplary embodiment of the site server  140  of  FIG.  1   . 
     As discussed above, each facility may have its own message formatting requirements. Regardless, there is more information than simply the message, which is received by the site server  300 . Namely, the received message includes the message, as well as recipient information, message sender, etc. Additional examples of information that can be included in a received message package is delivery time, permissions, etc. All this information is packaged together into the format designated by the facility, and transmitted to the facility by the central communication server  140 . 
     The packaged message is received at the site server  300  by the message receiver  310 . The message receiver  310  forwards the received message package to the message parsing  320 . The message parsing utilizes the predetermined message format associated with the facility to parse out the different informational portions of the received message. For example, the message parsing  320  extracts the message, the recipient information, and any other portions of the message package included therein. 
     Once all relevant elemental portions of the message have been extracted, the notification  330  proceeds to carry out message delivery. For example, at a minimum, the notification  330  retrieves the recipient information and the message, and forwards the message to all of the recipients identified. In an embodiment, the recipients are identified individually. In another embodiment, the recipients are identified as part of a group, such as a particular cell block, wing, or facility. 
     In an embodiment, delivery methods for each inmate are stored in a database located within the facility  101 A, such as within site server  140 . In this embodiment, when carrying out the deliver process, the notification  330  accesses the database and retrieved delivery methods for each recipient. Such delivery methods may include SMS or MMS message, email, PA announcement, or digital bulletin board, among others. The delivery method selected for each recipient may depend on the recipients available communication methods. For example, an inmate with an assigned wireless communication device will have SMS or MMS delivery methods selected, whereas an inmate without such a device will be limited to email (if he/she has such access), or PA/bulletin. 
     As discussed above, the notification  330  may also adjust the notification procedure based on the other data fields included in the message package. For example, if the message package includes a delivery time, the notification  330  will wait to transmit the message until the designated time. Other modifications are available based on other data fields in the message package. 
     In the manner described above, facilities are capable of receiving and disseminating messages to designated individuals housed therein. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates an exemplary data table for use with the exemplary messaging center of  FIG.  2   , according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The table includes numerous information useful for the dissemination of information to inmates. The database is organized according to facility, as shown in the first column  410 . Each facility can be further broken down into smaller subsections of residents, such as cell blocks (shown in second column  420 ). There may be multiple, or different, subsections than that depicted, including wing, security level, responsible security officer, etc. Regardless of which, or how many, subsets are included in the database, each inmate is identified in correspondence with his/her relevant data points, such as shown in the third column  430 . In the example shown in  FIG.  4   , inmate Peter Smith is a resident of Facility 1, Cell Block 1. In an embodiment, all inmates of the facility that are capable of receiving notifications via the notification system are identified in this database with their respective location information. 
     In addition to location and identification information, the database also includes delivery information. The delivery information should include at least a primary notification means, such as shown in the fourth column  440 . In an embodiment, secondary or more notification means are also included, such as shown in the fifth column  450 . The notification means shown in the fourth and fifth columns include a destination address for the inmate, where such an address exists, and a general notification description where no such address exists. For the example shown in  FIG.  4   , inmate peter smith should primarily be notified via his assigned wireless device at the device address: “AWD Address 1.” In an embodiment, the address of the assigned wireless device can be in the form of IP address, device identification, MAC address, etc. Secondarily, Peter Smith is to be notified via email at the address: “psmith@facility1.com.” In each of these communication methods, an address exists and is so identified in the database. 
     In a second example of  FIG.  4   , a second inmate of facility 1, John White, is primarily to be notified via his voice message box. For such a notification, no address is necessary because the central communication server  150  maintains a voice message box for each inmate through which he can send and receive messages with outsiders. Typically, upon next accessing the telecommunication system (or via other means), the inmate will receive notification of a pending message, upon which he can login to the system and retrieve his message. Secondarily, inmate John White is to be notified via bulletin, which requires that the message be posted somewhere publicly where he is likely to see the message. In an embodiment, the system  100  includes an electronic bulletin connected with the central communication server, that is configured to be updated with new notification information from the messaging  200  for publishing. 
     In the above embodiment, all the described data elements are included in a single database that is accessible by, and/or managed by, the central communication server  150 . However, in another embodiment, it may be beneficial to maintain the delivery information at the facility, since that is where that information becomes relevant. In the former embodiment, the delivery information is packaged with the message information in the transmitted message, whereas in the latter embodiment, the delivery information can be omitted from the packaged message and determined at the site based on the identified recipients/groups. By maintaining a relational database of the inmates and all their relevant groups, the system is able to efficiently parse messages to all intended recipients without requiring a full list of those recipients. In an embodiment, the system also allows for the user to input an omission, such as a person of the identified delivery group to which the message will not be sent. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates a flowchart diagram of an exemplary method for generating and transmitting messages to inmates. In the embodiment, the system receives a message and a recipient identification from the user ( 510 ). In an embodiment, the recipient is a group of inmates at one or more facilities, which are identified by their group rather than individually. After the relevant information has been received, the system packages the message ( 520 ) together with all relevant delivery information, such as group identification, omission information, delivery time, and authorization status of the sender. In an embodiment, the packaging may also include an encoding scheme unique to the destination prison, if applicable. 
     Once packaged, the packaged message is transmitted to the one or more facilities that include recipient inmates ( 530 ). If the designated recipient group is limited to inmates of a single facility, then the message is transmitted only to that facility. On the other hand, if the designated recipient group includes inmates of multiple facilities, then the packaged message is sent to all of those facilities. In this latter scenario, if facility-specific encoding is required, a separate packaged message can be generated for each facility that has a different encoding scheme in that encoding scheme. 
     Once the message is received by the facility, the facility unpacks the packaged message using its encoding scheme ( 540 ). As a result of the unpacking of the message, the different portions of the packaged message are extracted and parsed. The facility-based delivery system analyzes the parsed information in order to determine when, how, and to whom the extracted message is to be delivered. The facility-based system then delivers the message in accordance with that determination ( 550 ). 
     As has been described above, the system for delivering messages includes two separate messaging systems, one centralized to receive a message, and forward relevant messaging information to designated facilities, and a second that is located on-site at a facility (or off-site, but which serves the facility) to handle final delivery responsibilities of the received message within the facility. However, in an embodiment, these two messaging system can be combined into a single system that has communication privileges within the facility for carrying out final delivery responsibilities. 
     Exemplary Computer Implementation 
     It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various elements and features of the present disclosure, as described herein, can be implemented in hardware using analog and/or digital circuits, in software, through the execution of computer instructions by one or more general purpose or special-purpose processors, or as a combination of hardware and software. 
     The following description of a general purpose computer system is provided for the sake of completeness. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in hardware, or as a combination of software and hardware. Consequently, embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented in the environment of a computer system or other processing system. For example, the method of  FIG.  5    can be implemented in the environment of one or more computer systems or other processing systems. An example of such a computer system  600  is shown in  FIG.  6   . One or more of the modules depicted in the previous figures can be at least partially implemented on one or more distinct computer systems  600 . 
     Computer system  600  includes one or more processors, such as processor  604 . Processor  604  can be a special purpose or a general purpose digital signal processor. Processor  604  is connected to a communication infrastructure  602  (for example, a bus or network). Various software implementations are described in terms of this exemplary computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the disclosure using other computer systems and/or computer architectures. 
     Computer system  600  also includes a main memory  606 , preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory  608 . Secondary memory  608  may include, for example, a hard disk drive  610  and/or a removable storage drive  612 , representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, or the like. Removable storage drive  612  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit  616  in a well-known manner. Removable storage unit  616  represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, or the like, which is read by and written to by removable storage drive  612 . As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the relevant art(s), removable storage unit  616  includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data. 
     In alternative implementations, secondary memory  608  may include other similar means for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system  600 . Such means may include, for example, a removable storage unit  618  and an interface  614 . Examples of such means may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an EPROM, or PROM) and associated socket, a thumb drive and USB port, and other removable storage units  618  and interfaces  614  which allow software and data to be transferred from removable storage unit  618  to computer system  600 . 
     Computer system  600  may also include a communications interface  620 . Communications interface  620  allows software and data to be transferred between computer system  600  and external devices. Examples of communications interface  620  may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a PCMCIA slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface  620  are in the form of signals which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical, or other signals capable of being received by communications interface  620 . These signals are provided to communications interface  620  via a communications path  622 . Communications path  622  carries signals and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a phone line, a cellular phone link, an RF link and other communications channels. 
     As used herein, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer readable medium” are used to generally refer to tangible storage media such as removable storage units  616  and  618  or a hard disk installed in hard disk drive  610 . These computer program products are means for providing software to computer system  600 . 
     Computer programs (also called computer control logic) are stored in main memory  606  and/or secondary memory  608 . Computer programs may also be received via communications interface  620 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system  600  to implement the present disclosure as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable processor  604  to implement the processes of the present disclosure, such as any of the methods described herein. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer system  600 . Where the disclosure is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system  600  using removable storage drive  612 , interface  614 , or communications interface  620 . 
     In another embodiment, features of the disclosure are implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) and gate arrays. Implementation of a hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will also be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s). 
     Conclusion 
     It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Abstract section, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Abstract section may set forth one or more, but not all exemplary embodiments, and thus, is not intended to limit the disclosure and the appended claims in any way. 
     The disclosure has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries may be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Thus, the disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.