Advertisement-Funded Communication System for Detainee Tablets

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In controlled-environment facilities like law enforcement settings, detainees often lack the means to pay for communication services, resulting in lost revenue for the facility and vendors, as they cannot initiate calls without a prepaid account or credit card.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a controlled-environment communication system that uses tablet computing devices with an advertisement-funded model, where advertisements are played on these devices to fund communication services, allowing residents to make calls without upfront payment, with the billing engine allowing communication before, during, or after the advertisements are played.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If detainees are required to have prepaid accounts or credit cards to make calls, then service providers can ensure payment for communications, but detainees without such accounts cannot initiate calls resulting in lost revenue opportunities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepayment assuranceVSAvoidaccessibility to communication services

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an advertisement intermediary that mediates between the service provider and detainees without traditional payment accounts. Advertisements are delivered to detainees during communications, and the revenue from these advertisements serves as an alternative payment mechanism, enabling detainees to access communication services without requiring prepaid accounts or credit cards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables detainees to self-fund their communications by viewing advertisements. Rather than requiring external funding sources like prepaid accounts, the detainee actively participates in generating revenue through advertisement viewing, which then covers the cost of their communication services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If free calls are offered to recent arrestees to secure legal representation, then accessibility to communication is improved, but revenue loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccessibility to communication servicesVSAvoidrevenue loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the previously harmful revenue loss from free calls into a benefit by implementing advertisement-funded communications. What was once a pure loss (free calls) is now transformed into a revenue-generating opportunity through the delivery of advertisements during these communications, particularly benefiting detainees who need to contact legal representation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the funding parameter from traditional prepaid accounts to advertisement revenue. By altering how communications are funded - shifting from user-prepaid models to advertiser-funded models - the system maintains accessibility while eliminating revenue loss associated with free or subsidized calls.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If advertisements are played to fund communications, then revenue loss is reduced and service funding is improved, but the communication experience is altered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverevenue loss reductionVSAvoidcommunication experience

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The communication system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it enables detainee communications and delivers advertisements to both detainees and external parties. This multi-functionality allows the system to fund communications through advertisement revenue while maintaining the core communication capability, creating a win-win scenario where both communication needs and revenue generation are satisfied.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9420118B2Advertisements in controlled-environment communication systems using tablet computing devices

Publication Date: 2016.08.16 SECURUS TECH LLC

AI summary

A tablet computing device and controlled-environment communications processing system implemented process calls for the tablet requesting, via the controlled-environment communications system, a communication link between the tablet and another communications device. A resident of the controlled-environment facility operating the tablet is identified by the tablet to the controlled-environment communications system. The controlled-environment communications system selects advertisement(s) to be played on at least the tablet operated by the resident. The advertisement(s) are played on at least the tablet. The communications link is established by the controlled-environment communications system, between the tablet and the other communications device, before, during or following playing of the advertisement(s) on at least the tablet. Communication is carried out on the tablet, via the communications link, before, during and/or following playing of the advertisement(s).