Automated Information Dissemination System for Controlled Facilities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Controlled environment facilities face administrative burdens in managing and disseminating information, particularly in inmate facilities, where friends and family seek details about inmates, and service providers need to communicate effectively with facilities for service offerings, often resulting in time-consuming manual processes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing automated systems and methods that facilitate real-time information dissemination through multiple communication paths, including electronic mail, paging, and voice messaging, using interrupt messaging and IVR systems to connect parties efficiently and manage transactions, thereby reducing human interaction and administrative tasks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated information systems are implemented, then information dissemination efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation dissemination efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an automated information system that acts as an intermediary between controlled environment facilities and external parties. This system receives, processes, and disseminates information automatically, reducing the need for direct human-to-human communication while managing the complexity through standardized protocols and interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical communication processes (telephone calls, in-person visits, mail) with automated electronic information systems. This substitution enables efficient information dissemination while the system's modular architecture manages complexity through standardized data formats and automated routing protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If manual information management processes are used, then system simplicity is maintained, but administrative burden increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidadministrative burden

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The automated information system enables self-service functionality where external parties can independently access and retrieve information about residents without requiring facility staff intervention. The system automatically processes requests, searches databases, and delivers information, eliminating tedious manual administrative tasks while maintaining simple user interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple communication paths are implemented, then information accessibility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation accessibilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal automated information system that handles multiple communication functions through a single integrated platform. The system can disseminate information via various channels (electronic mail, paging, voice messaging) while managing complexity through unified protocols and centralized control, allowing external parties to access information through their preferred communication method.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Productivity

If automated systems reduce human interaction, then administrative efficiency is improved, but communication reliability may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadministrative efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The automated information system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor communication status and verify successful information delivery. The system tracks whether information was successfully transmitted to external parties and can trigger retry protocols or alert facility staff if delivery fails, maintaining reliability while preserving administrative efficiency through automated monitoring rather than manual verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8670533B1Systems and methods for management and dissemination of information from a controlled environment facility

Publication Date: 2014.03.11 SECURUS TECH LLC

AI summary

Dissemination of information from a controlled environment facility employs facility information management functionality managing resident information and facility information, and call manager functionality selectively providing at least a portion of the resident information and/or the facility information to an outside party and/or professionals associated with the facility in an automated manner. The invention may employ outgoing IVR functionality to provide select portions of the resident information to appropriate professionals at the time of intake of a new resident. The invention may conduct a reverse auction among professionals offering a particular good or service, manage information related to providers of services or goods for residents of a facility, provide an outside party this information including results of a reverse auction, and notify a selected provider of selection of that provider by the outside party to provide goods or services for a resident.