Inbound Calling Platform for Controlled-Environment Facilities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Controlled-environment facility residents, such as inmates, face challenges in receiving inbound phone and video calls due to lack of dedicated communication devices and inadequate call handling systems, with no method for directing calls to specific residents and restricted availability for receiving calls.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a controlled-environment facility inbound and outbound calling platform that assigns telephone numbers to residents, associates routable addresses with these numbers, and provides an online directory for callers to find and connect with available residents, using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) for call routing and presence applications to manage call availability and eligibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional communication services are provided to controlled-environment facility residents, then outbound calling capability is enabled, but inbound call handling remains impossible due to lack of dedicated devices and call screening systems

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinbound calling capabilityVSAvoidcommunication system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an online directory and call routing platform as an intermediary between outside callers and facility residents. This mediator matches incoming calls to available residents based on pre-established relationships, enabling inbound calling without requiring complex switchboards or dedicated communication infrastructure within the facility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses universal telephone numbers that can be dialed from any standard phone to reach facility residents. The online directory serves multiple functions including caller identification, resident availability checking, and call routing, replacing the need for specialized communication devices within the facility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If shared telephones are used in controlled-environment facilities, then basic communication is possible, but individual call directing to specific residents cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall directing capabilityVSAvoidcaller-resident matching information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing relationships between callers and residents, and pre-matching potential call pairs through the online directory before actual calls occur. This advance preparation enables immediate call connection without requiring on-site communication infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The online directory provides feedback to outside callers about which residents are available to receive calls, based on pre-established relationships and current availability status. This feedback mechanism enables callers to make informed decisions about who to contact without requiring facility staff intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If call availability is restricted for security reasons, then security is maintained, but communication accessibility deteriorates due to unpredictable and limited calling windows

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication accessibilityVSAvoidcall availability predictability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically updates resident availability status in the online directory based on real-time conditions within the facility. Residents can transition between available and unavailable states, and this information is automatically reflected in the directory, allowing flexible communication access while maintaining security protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10897597B1Inbound calls to controlled-environment facility resident telephone numbers

Publication Date: 2021.01.19 SECURUS TECH LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods enabling inbound calls to controlled-environment facility resident telephone numbers employ resident-associated communications devices deployed in the facilities. An inbound and outbound calling platform assigns a telephone number to each resident and associates a routable (IP) address of each resident communications device with such telephone number. This calling platform also presents an online directory to accessing inbound callers that lists residents the caller is allowed to call, the telephone number(s) of such resident(s), and whether such residents and their communications devices are ready to receive a call. The calling platform reconfirms such information upon an inbound call being placed to a telephone number assigned to a resident and signals the resident communications device associated with the resident assigned that telephone number. A controlled-environment facility communication processing system routes the call to the resident communications device associated with the resident called and connects the call.