Preferential pricing, system and method
An exemplary embodiment provides for a computer-implemented method for self-selection into a familial-based discount telephonic rate program. The method includes receiving an indication that a person is related to a current participant of the familial-based discount telephonic rate program and adding a person to the familial-based discount telephonic rate program as a relative to a current participant. The computer-implemented method further includes providing discounted telephone call rates for phone calls between the person and the current participant.
1. A method for operating a secure facility call management system comprising:
receiving a completed application for participation in a familial-based discount telephonic rate program;
determining eligibility for the familial-based telephonic discount rate program based on the completed application, wherein eligibility is further based upon an applicant having a family member who is a participant in the familial-based discount telephonic rate program and the applicant being specified as a contact in a secure social network account of the family member;
instrumenting, using a booking kiosk of the secure facility call management system, a mobile computing device of the family member with instrumented software to impose, using the secure facility call management system, a security restriction regarding a type of person that the family member is prohibited from contacting, wherein the family member resides at a controlled facility associated with the secure facility call management system,
wherein the instrumented software of the mobile computing device verifies that communicating with the applicant does not violate the security restriction,
wherein the booking kiosk obtains verification data used to authenticate the family member;
obtaining a copy of a telephone bill of the applicant at the secure facility call management system;
communicating a verification code to the applicant;
placing a call, by the secure facility call management system and over a communications network, to a telephone number specified in the telephone bill; and
requiring the applicant to enter the verification code using a telephone keypad, wherein determining eligibility is further based on receiving the verification code from the applicant.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising initially providing an application for participation in the familial-based discount telephonic rate program.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 wherein discounted telephone call rates of the familial-based discount telephonic rate program apply to phone calls that originate from the family member of the familial-based discount telephonic rate program to the applicant.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein discounted telephone call rates of the familial-based discount telephonic rate program also apply to phone calls that originate from the family member of the familial-based discount telephonic rate program to relatives of the family member that join the familial-based discount telephonic rate program subsequent to the family member.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the family member is selected from the group consisting of a father, a mother, a sibling or a spouse.
6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein the relationship between the applicant and the family member is based upon analysis of at least a birth certificate of the applicant or a birth certificate of the family member or a marriage certificate of the applicant.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the relationship is verified based on the birth certificate of the applicant.
8. The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the relationship is a parent-child relationship.
9. The method as recited in claim 8 the applicant is a parent of the family member or a child of the family member.
10. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the relationship is verified if a name of the applicant and a name of the family member are both listed on the birth certificate of the applicant.
11. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the relationship between the applicant and the family member is based upon analysis of both the birth certificate of the applicant and the birth certificate of the family member.
12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein the relationship is a sibling relationship.
13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein the relationship is verified if at least one parent name is common on both the birth certificate of the applicant and the birth certificate of the family member.
14. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the relationship is verified based on the marriage certificate of the applicant.
15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein the relationship is a spousal relationship and wherein the relationship is verified if the family member is listed on the marriage certificate of the applicant.
16. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the completed application includes changed name information which is also utilized for verifying the relationship.
17. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the relationship between the applicant and the family member is based upon analysis of a tax return of the applicant.
18. The method as recited in claim 15 wherein the relationship is verified if the family member is a claimed dependent as listed on the tax return of the applicant.
19. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein discounted telephone call rates of the familial-based discount telephonic rate program applies to phone calls that originate from one family member of the familial-based discount telephonic rate program.
20. The method as recited in claim 19 wherein the one family member resides in a secure facility wherein the secure facility is a prison.
21. A method for operating a secure facility call management system comprising:
instrumenting, using a booking kiosk of the secure facility call management system, a mobile computing device of the family member with instrumented software to impose, using the secure facility call management system, a security restriction regarding a type of person that a current participant is prohibited from contacting, wherein the current participant resides at a controlled facility associated with the secure facility call management system,
wherein the instrumented software of the mobile computing device verifies that communicating with a person does not violate the security restriction,
wherein the booking kiosk obtains verification data used to authenticate the family member;
obtaining a copy of a telephone bill of the person at the secure facility call management system;
communicating a verification code to the person;
placing a call, by the secure facility call management system and over a communications network, to a telephone number specified in the telephone bill;
requiring the person to enter the verification code using a telephone keypad;
adding, based on receiving the verification code from the person and the person being specified as a contact in a secure social network account of the current participant, the person to a familial-based discount telephonic rate program as a relative to the current participant; and
providing discounted telephone call rates for phone calls between the person and the current participant.
22. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising initially receiving an indication that the person is related to the current participant of the familial-based discount telephonic rate program.
23. A method for operating a secure facility call management system comprising:
receiving an indication that a person has an existing association with a current participant of a pre-defined relationship-based discount telephonic rate program;
instrumenting, using a booking kiosk of the secure facility call management system, a mobile computing device of the family member with instrumented software to impose, using the secure facility call management system, a security restriction regarding a type of person that the family member is prohibited from contacting, wherein the family member resides at a controlled facility associated with the secure facility call management system,
wherein the instrumented software of the mobile computing device verifies that communicating with the person does not violate the security restriction,
wherein the booking kiosk obtains verification data used to authenticate the family member;
obtaining a copy of a telephone bill of the person at the secure facility call management system;
communicating a verification code to the person;
placing a call, by the secure facility call management system and over a communications network, to a telephone number specified in the telephone bill;
requiring the person to enter the verification code using a telephone keypad;
adding, based on receiving the verification code from the person and the person being specified as a contact in a secure social network account of the current participant, the person to the pre-defined relationship-based discount telephonic rate program as being associated with the current participant; and
providing discounted telephone call rates for phone calls between the person and the current participant.
24. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the existing association is a familial association.
25. The method as recited in claim 23 wherein the existing association is a religion member to clergy member association.
26. A system for operating a secure facility call management system, comprising:
a processor, and
a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
receive a completed application for participation in a familial-based discount telephonic rate program;
determine eligibility for the familial-based telephonic discount rate program based on the completed application, wherein eligibility is further based upon an applicant having a family member who is a participant in the familial-based discount telephonic rate program and the applicant being specified as a contact in a secure social network account of the family member;
instrument, using a booking kiosk of the secure facility call management system, a mobile computing device of the family member with instrumented software to impose, using the secure facility call management system, a security restriction regarding a type of person that the family member is prohibited from contacting, wherein the family member resides at a controlled facility associated with the secure facility call management system,
wherein the instrumented software of the mobile computing device verifies that communicating with the applicant does not violate the security restriction,
wherein the booking kiosk obtains verification data used to authenticate the family member;
obtain a copy of a telephone bill of the applicant at the secure facility call management system;
communicate a verification code to the applicant;
place a call, by the secure facility call management system and over a communications network, to a telephone number specified in the telephone bill; and
require the applicant to enter the verification code using a telephone keypad, wherein determining eligibility is further based on receiving the verification code from the applicant.
27. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method for operating a secure facility call management system, the method comprising:
receiving a completed application for participation in a familial-based discount telephonic rate program;
determining eligibility for the familial-based telephonic discount rate program based on the completed application, wherein eligibility is further based upon an applicant having a family member who is a participant in the familial-based discount telephonic rate program and the applicant being specified as a contact in a secure social network account of the family member;
instrumenting, using a booking kiosk of the secure facility call management system, a mobile computing device of the family member with instrumented software to impose, using the secure facility call management system, a security restriction regarding a type of person that the family member is prohibited from contacting, wherein the family member resides at a controlled facility associated with the secure facility call management system,
wherein the instrumented software of the mobile computing device verifies that communicating with the applicant does not violate the security restriction,
wherein the booking kiosk obtains verification data used to authenticate the family member;
obtaining a copy of a telephone bill of the applicant at the secure facility call management system;
communicating a verification code to the applicant;
placing a call, by the secure facility call management system and over a communications network, to a telephone number specified in the telephone bill; and
requiring the applicant to enter the verification code using a telephone keypad, wherein determining eligibility is further based on receiving the verification code from the applicant.