Controlled environment facility calling services using voice over internet protocol infrastructure
Systems and methods which utilize existing, or otherwise available, voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) infrastructure for providing calling services with respect to controlled environment facilities, while continuing to implement a desired level of call mastering, are shown. VoIP infrastructure utilized according to embodiments may be provided by various alternative carriers, such as may have initially have been deployed for providing reduced rate calling services to individual users. Where possible, a call processor adapted according to embodiments may implement some of the same call mastering functions with respect to calls using VoIP infrastructure links as for more traditional call using PSTN links. However, embodiments additionally or alternatively implement functions uniquely tailored to the use of VoIP links. Embodiments allow user selection of the use of VoIP infrastructure.
1. A method, comprising:
receiving a request from a calling party within a controlled-environment facility at a call processing platform to initiate a communication with a called party;
prior to initiating said communication between said calling party and said called party, receiving an indication from said called party of whether said called party wishes to utilize a first network infrastructure or a second network infrastructure to establish said communication; and
at least one of:
if said called party indicates selection of said first network infrastructure, establishing a link under control of said call processing platform using said first network infrastructure to provide said communication between said calling party and said called party; or
if said called party indicates selection of said second network infrastructure, establishing a link under control of said call processing platform using said second network infrastructure to provide said communication between said calling party and said called party; and
wherein said indication is received in response to an announcement providing information to said called party explaining an advantage or a disadvantage of selecting said first or second network infrastructures.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said indication is received in response to an announcement declaring that said communication is from said controlled-environment facility.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said called party is disposed outside of said controlled-environment facility.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said advantage includes a cost savings of said first or second network infrastructures.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said disadvantage includes a lower quality service of said first or second network infrastructures.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said communication is selected from the group consisting of: a telephone call, a video call, a messaging service, and an email.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said call link is used in providing said communication associated with said controlled-environment facility.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said call link is used in providing communications subsequent to said call associated with said controlled-environment facility.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first network infrastructure is public switched telephone network (PSTN) infrastructure and said second network infrastructure is voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) infrastructure.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein said VoIP infrastructure comprises VoIP infrastructure deployed for facilitating individual callers direct access to alternative carrier calling services.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein establishing said link using said second network infrastructure comprises:
said call processing platform emulating user interaction with a VoIP call control system to initiate a VoIP link.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first network infrastructure is an analog infrastructure and said second network infrastructure is a digital infrastructure.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first network infrastructure is a switched connection infrastructure and said second network infrastructure is a logical connection infrastructure.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein said call processing platform provides call mastering functions for calls made with respect to said controlled environment facility, said call completed using said first or second network infrastructure being one call made with respect to said controlled environment facility.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein said call mastering functions provide same functions with respect to calls made using said first network infrastructure and calls made using said second network infrastructure.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein said call mastering functions comprise at least two functions from the group of functions consisting of enhanced calling service detection, call recording, and word searching with respect to call content.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein said call mastering functions include a set of call mastering functions which are implemented differently with respect to calls made using said first network infrastructure and calls made using said second network infrastructure.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein a call mastering function of said set implements a different decision criteria with respect to calls made using said first network infrastructure and calls made using said second network infrastructure.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein said different decision criteria results in a call mastering decision with respect to said calls made using said second network infrastructure that invokes a control feature at a lower threshold than a call mastering decision made with respect to said calls made using said first network infrastructure.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said controlled environment facility comprises a penal institution.
21. A system, comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled to said processor, said memory including program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by said processor, cause said system to:
establish a communication involving at least one user terminal located within a penal institution, wherein said communication is conducted over a public switched telephone network (PSTN) infrastructure or a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) infrastructure as selected by a called party to the communication; and
provide a communication mastering function for said communication, wherein said communication mastering function is implemented differently with respect to: (i) communications made using said PSTN infrastructure without use of said VoIP infrastructure, and (ii) communications made using said VoIP infrastructure; and
wherein the selection is received in response to an announcement providing information to said called party explaining an advantage or a disadvantage of selecting said first or second network infrastructures.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein said VoIP infrastructure is provided for servicing users directly via a VoIP infrastructure user interface.
23. The system of claim 21 , wherein said VoIP infrastructure provides a PSTN termination point to PSTN termination point connection using a VoIP link between.
24. The system of claim 23 , wherein said at least one user terminal communicates using a VoIP communication link and wherein said program instructions, upon execution by said processor, further cause said system to convert PSTN signals to VoIP signals for coupling a link provided by said VoIP infrastructure to said at least one user terminal.
25. The system of claim 21 , wherein said VoIP infrastructure provides a VoIP termination point to PSTN termination point connection.
26. The system of claim 25 , wherein said at least one user terminal communicates using a PSTN communication link and wherein said program instructions, upon execution by said processor, further cause said system to convert VoIP signals to PSTN signals for coupling a link provided by said VoIP infrastructure to said at least one user terminal.
27. The system of claim 21 , wherein said called party is disposed outside of said penal institution, and wherein said program instructions, upon execution by said processor, further cause said system to:
receive a request from a calling party operating the at least one user terminal within the penal institution to initiate said communication with said called party;
prior to establishment of said communication, receive said selection of PSTN or VoIP infrastructure from said called party; and
at least one of:
if said selection indicates the PSTN infrastructure, establish said communication using said PSTN infrastructure without use of said VoIP infrastructure; or
if said selection indicates the VoIP infrastructure, establish said communication using said VoIP infrastructure.
28. The system of claim 27 , wherein said called party utilizes a user terminal disposed external to said penal institution.
29. The system of claim 21 , wherein said program instructions, upon execution by said processor, further cause said system to provide same communication mastering functions with respect to communications made using said PSTN infrastructure without use of said VoIP infrastructure and communications made using said VoIP infrastructure.
30. The system of claim 29 , wherein said communication mastering function comprises three-way calling service detection.
31. The system of claim 29 , wherein said communication mastering function comprises remote call forwarding calling service detection.
32. The system of claim 21 , wherein said communication mastering function comprises at least one of: enhanced calling service detection, call recording, or limitation of called numbers to which calls may be completed.
33. The system of claim 32 , wherein said communication mastering function further comprises word searching with respect to communication content.
34. The system of claim 21 , wherein said program instructions, upon execution by said processor, further cause said system to provide a first set of communication mastering functions which are implemented the same with respect to communications made using said PSTN infrastructure without use of said VoIP infrastructure and communications made using said VoIP infrastructure, and a second set of communication mastering functions which are implemented differently with respect to communications made using said PSTN infrastructure without use of said VoIP infrastructure and communications made using said VoIP infrastructure.
35. The system of claim 34 , wherein a communication mastering function of said second set implements a different decision criteria with respect to communications made using said PSTN infrastructure without use of said VoIP infrastructure and communications made using said VoIP infrastructure.
36. The system of claim 35 , wherein said different decision criteria results in a communication mastering decision with respect to said communications made using said VoIP infrastructure invokes a control feature at a lower threshold than a communication mastering decision made with respect to said communications made using said PSTN infrastructure.
37. The system of claim 34 , wherein said second set of communication mastering functions comprise call control functions.
38. The system of claim 34 , wherein said second set of communication mastering functions comprise call monitoring functions.
39. The system of claim 21 , wherein said at least one user terminal comprises an analog telephone.
40. The system of claim 21 , wherein said at least one user terminal comprises a computer.
41. The system of claim 21 , wherein said at least one user terminal comprises a processor-based kiosk.
42. The system of claim 21 , wherein said communication is selected from the group consisting of: a telephone call, a video call, a messaging service, and an email.
43. A method, comprising:
providing communication control with respect to communications made between a resident of a controlled environment facility and a party outside of said controlled-environment facility, wherein said resident is operating a terminal located within said controlled-environment facility and said party is operating a terminal located outside of said controlled-environment facility, wherein said party is a called party, wherein said communication control is provided using a call processing platform, and wherein said controlled-environment facility comprises a penal institution; and
allowing said party to select between one of: a public switched telephone network (PSTN) infrastructure or a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) infrastructure for use in providing said communications, wherein said call processing platform is configured to interact with said party in allowing said party to select between use of said PSTN infrastructure and said VoIP infrastructure, wherein said communication control comprises providing communication mastering functions that are implemented differently with respect to communications made using said PSTN infrastructure without use of said VoIP infrastructure and communications made using said VoIP infrastructure, wherein a communication mastering function of a set of call mastering functions implements a different decision criteria with respect to communications made using said PSTN infrastructure without use of said VoIP infrastructure and communications made using said VoIP infrastructure, and wherein said different decision criteria results in a communication mastering decision with respect to said communications made using said VoIP infrastructure invoking a control feature at a lower threshold than a communication mastering decision made with respect to said communications made using said PSTN infrastructure, wherein the communication mastering decision is a detection of a three-way call based on the lower threshold, and wherein the invoked control feature is termination of the said communications.
44. The method of claim 43 , wherein said communication control comprises controlling initiation of communications from said controlled-environment facility.
45. The method of claim 43 , wherein said communication control comprises controlling initiation of communications having a termination point outside of said controlled-environment facility.
46. The method of claim 43 , wherein said communication mastering functions provide same functions with respect to communications made using said PSTN infrastructure without use of said VoIP infrastructure and communications made using said VoIP infrastructure.
47. The method of claim 43 , wherein said communication mastering functions comprise at least two functions from the group of functions consisting of enhanced calling service detection, call recording, and word searching with respect to communication content.
48. The method of claim 47 , wherein said enhanced calling service detection comprises three-way calling service detection.
49. The method of claim 47 , wherein said enhanced calling service detection comprises remote call forwarding calling service detection.
50. The method of claim 43 , further comprising:
storing information associated with said party, said information including selection of said PSTN infrastructure or said VoIP infrastructure for use with respect to providing subsequent communications.
51. The method of claim 43 , further comprising:
interacting, by said call processing platform, with a VoIP call control system to provide a VoIP link for said communications in accordance with selection of use of VoIP infrastructure by said party.
52. The method of claim 51 , wherein said interacting comprises:
emulating user operation to initiate a VoIP link.