IP Library Patent Application 15484883
Patent Application
App. No. 15/484,883

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AND CONTROLLING CONTRABAND DEVICES

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
15/484,883
Abstract

The growing problem of contraband devices being smuggled into a correctional facility raises both security and safety issue. General fixed contraband detected systems are not cost effective because they require a high up-front cost and high maintenance, training and upgrade cost after installation. The present disclosure provides details of a system and method to detect and control the usage of contraband devices in a correctional facility cost effectively. Such a system is portable and can be relocated to different locations. Such a system both detects contraband devices and disrupts the operations of the contraband devices. Such a system further provides a report on the severity of contraband usage to the correctional facility.

Claims (110)

1 . A portable detection and control system for detecting and controlling contraband devices in a correctional facility, comprising:

a communication interface configured to:

in a detection mode:

detect one or more contraband devices by cycling through different frequency bands,

intercept transmitted data from the one or more contraband devices, and

after the intercepting, transition from the detection mode to a control mode;

in the control mode:

processing the intercepted data to a calling network; and

recording caller information and call audio of the processed call data;

a memory configured to store the transmitted data intercepted by the communication interface from the one or more contraband devices; and

an application server configured to:

instruct the communication interface to detect the one or more contraband devices,

generate detection event information for each of the one or more contraband devices when the one or more contraband devices is detected,

instruct the communication interface to intercept transmitted data from the one or more contraband devices,

extract hardware, data usage, and location information of the one or more contraband devices from the transmitted data intercepted from the one or more contraband devices, and

instruct the communication interface to disrupt the operation of the one or more contraband devices; and

wherein the system is capable of being transported or conveyed.

2 . The portable detection and control system of claim 1 , wherein the hardware information of the one or more contraband devices comprises:

a hardware identification number of the one or more contraband devices,

a phone number of the one or more contraband devices, and

a phone number of a remote device communicating with the one or more contraband devices.

3 . The portable detection and control system of claim 1 , wherein the detection event information comprises:

the date/time when each of the one or more contraband devices was detected,

the duration of the one or more contraband devices being detected, and

the location of the detection and control system when the one or more contraband devices was detected.

4 . The portable detection and control system of claim 1 , wherein the data usage information comprises:

the duration of data transmission conducted by the one or more contraband devices, and

the volume of the data transmitted by the one or more contraband devices.

5 . The portable detection and control system of claim 1 , wherein the application server is further configured to generate a report for the detection of the one or more contraband devices, the report comprises:

a total number of the one or more contraband devices that have been detected,

a total time of the one or more contraband devices being used, and

a total volume of the data transmitted by the one or more contraband devices.

6 . The portable detection and control system of claim 1 , wherein the report for the detection of the one or more contraband devices further comprises a degree of severity of the contraband usage in the correction facility calculated based on a collection of detection parameters generated from the detection event information, the data usage information, the hardware information and the location information of the one or more contraband devices.

7 . The portable detection and control system of claim 1 , wherein the information of the one or more contraband devices is extracted by locating the one or more contraband devices using one or more positioning techniques comprising lateration and angulation.

8 . The portable detection and control system of claim 1 , wherein disrupting the operation of the one or more contraband devices comprises:

sending a jamming signal to the one or more contraband devices to block the communication of the one or more contraband devices,

sending a managed access signal to the one or more contraband devices and connect with the one or more contraband devices, or

recording the communication transmitted from and to the one or more contraband devices.

9 . The portable detection and control system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a detachable detection and control unit, configured to:

communicate with the communication interface of the portable detection and control system using wired or wireless communication technologies,

detect the one or more contraband devices, and

disrupt the one or more contraband devices; and

wherein the detachable detection and control unit can be detached from the portable detection and control system and transported to a plurality of locations.

10 . A method of contraband device detection and control using a portable system, comprising:

at a first location, conducting a first detection and control operation using the portable system, comprising:

in a detection mode:

detecting a first one or more contraband devices,

intercepting a first transmitted data from the first one or more contraband devices,

extracting a first hardware, data usage, and location information of the first one or more contraband devices from the first transmitted data from the first one or more contraband devices,

generating a first report for the first one or more contraband devices, and

after the intercepting, transition from the detection mode to a control mode; and

in the control mode:

processing the intercepted data to a calling network; and

recording caller information and call audio of the processed call data;

relocating the portable system from the first location to a second location, after the relocating, transitioning from the control mode to the detection mode, and conducting a second detection and control operation at the second location using the portable system, comprising:

in the detection mode:

detecting a second one or more contraband devices,

intercepting a second transmitted data from the second one or more contraband devices,

extracting a second hardware, data usage, and location information of the second one or more contraband devices from the second transmitted data from the second one or more contraband devices,

generating a second report for the second one or more contraband devices, and

transition from the detection mode to the control mode, and

in the control mode:

disrupting a second operation of the second one or more contraband devices.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each of generating a first report for the first one or more contraband devices and generating a second report for the second one or more contraband devices comprises generating:

a total number of the first or the second one or more contraband devices that have been detected,

a total time of the first or the second one or more contraband devices being used, and

a total volume of the data transmitted by the first or the second one or more contraband devices.

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each of generating a first report for the first one or more contraband devices and generating a second report for the second one or more contraband devices further comprises generating a degree of severity of the contraband usage at the first location or the second location, wherein the degree of severity is calculated based on the first or the second transmitted data from the first or the second one or more contraband devices.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein each of disrupting the first operations of the first one or more contraband devices and disrupting the second operations of the second one or more contraband devices comprises:

sending a jamming signal to the first or the second one or more contraband devices to block the communication of the first or the second one or more contraband devices,

sending a managed access signal to the first or the second one or more contraband devices and connect with the first or the second one or more contraband devices, or

recording the communication transmitted to and from the first or the second one or more contraband devices.

14 . A detection and control system, comprising:

one or more detection and control units, the unit comprising

a first communication interface configured to:

in a detection mode:

detect one or more contraband devices by cycling through different frequency bands,

intercept transmitted data from the one or more contraband devices, and

after the intercepting, transition from the detection mode to a control mode;

in the control mode:

processing the intercepted data to a calling network; and

recording caller information and call audio of the processed call data;

a memory configured to store the transmitted data intercepted by the first communication interface from the one or more contraband devices; and

an application server configured to:

instruct the first communication interface to detect the one or more contraband devices,

generate detection event information for each of the one or more contraband devices when the one or more contraband devices is detected,

instruct the first communication interface to intercept transmitted data from the one or more contraband devices,

extract hardware, data usage, and location information of the one or more contraband devices from the transmitted data intercepted from the one or more contraband devices,

instruct the first communication interface to disrupt the operation of the one or more contraband devices, and

generate a report for the detection of the one or more contraband devices; and

wherein the one or more detection and control units are enclosed by a transportable casing; and

one or more first mobility units, configured to transport the one or more detection and control units.

15 . The system of claim 14 , further comprises a detachable detection and control unit configured to:

communicate with the first communication interface of the portable detection and control system using wired or wireless communication technologies,

detect the one or more contraband devices, and

disrupt the one or more contraband devices; and

wherein the detachable detection and control unit can be detached from the from the portable detection and control system and transported to a plurality of locations.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the detachable detection and control unit comprises:

a second communication interface, and

a second mobility unit for the detachable detection and control unit, the second mobility unit for the detachable detection and control unit is a manned vehicle, an unmanned vehicle or an unmanned aerial vehicle;

wherein the second communication interface is mounted on the second moving unit.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more first mobility units are configured to:

communicate with the one or more detection and control units,

receive transport instructions from the one or more detection and control units, and

transport the one or more detection and control units to a target location based on the transport instructions.

18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the one or more first mobility units comprise manned vehicles and unmanned vehicles.

19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the first communication interface comprises one or more antennas, wherein the antennas further comprise:

a distributed antenna system (DAS), and

one or more directional antennas.

20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the report for the detection of the one or more contraband devices comprises a degree of severity of the contraband usage in the correction facility calculated based on a collection of detection parameters generated from the detection event information, the data usage information, the hardware information and the location information of the one or more contraband devices.

Assignments (9)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: UBS AG CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION; DSI-ITI, INC.; VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; TOUCHPAY HOLDINGS, LLC; RENOVO SOFTWARE, INC.; INTELMATE LLC
Reel/Frame 069177/0067 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 6, 2024
From: UBS AG CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH (AS SUCCESSOR IN INTEREST TO CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH)
To: GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION; DSI-ITI, INC.; VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; TOUCHPAY HOLDINGS, LLC; RENOVO SOFTWARE, INC.; INTELMATE LLC
Reel/Frame 069175/0165 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2018
From: GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION; DSI-ITI, INC.; VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; TOUCHPAY HOLDINGS, LLC; RENOVO SOFTWARE, INC.; INTELMATE LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 047720/0576 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2018
From: GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION; DSI-ITI, INC.; VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; TOUCHPAY HOLDINGS, LLC; RENOVO SOFTWARE, INC.; INTELMATE LLC
To: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
Reel/Frame 048788/0014 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DSI-ITI, LLC; GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION; VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047692/0815 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DSI-ITI, LLC; GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION; VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047687/0260 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DSI-ITI, LLC; GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION; VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047687/0287 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2018
From: CREDIT SUISSE AG, CAYMAN ISLANDS BRANCH
To: DSI-ITI, LLC; GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION; VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047687/0913 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2017
From: HODGE, STEPHEN LEE
To: GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042003/0009 →