IP Library Granted Patent US 10,560,488
Granted Patent B2
US 10,560,488 · App. 16/175,202 · Granted Feb 11, 2020

Electronic messaging exchange

Inventors: Stephen Hodge (Aubrey, TX); David Woody (Allen, TX)
Assignee: Global Tel*Link Corporation
H04L63/30H04L51/04H04L51/066H04L51/12H04L51/14H04L51/22H04L51/36H04L51/38H04L63/08H04L63/083H04L63/0861H04L63/102H04L63/105H04L63/1408H04M3/42382H04L63/0892H04L67/02H04L67/306H04M3/2281H04W48/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,560,488
App. No.
16/175,202
Granted
Feb 11, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for secure electronic message exchange including coupling a control platform to a workstation of a plurality of workstations via a communications medium, where the control platform includes one or more apparatuses for monitoring, controlling, conversion, and billing, related to messages exchanged between a plurality of local users and a plurality of remote users. The system prevents forwarding or copying of a message sent by a local user of the plurality of local users and received by a remote user of the plurality of remote users, to another party by the control platform. The system and method also provides for authenticating the remote user with the control platform.

Claims (74)

1. A method for secure electronic message exchange, comprising:

receiving, by a secure platform, a login request from a remote device associated with a user, wherein the remote device is located outside a secure inmate facility;

approving the login request from the user;

providing, by the secure platform, secure web-based access to the user;

receiving, by the secure platform, an electronic message from the remote device;

transmitting, by the secure platform, the electronic message to a control platform, wherein the secure platform is coupled to the control platform, and the control platform is located outside the secure inmate facility;

authenticating, by the control platform, the user by determining whether the user is an approved contact for an inmate;

performing, by the control platform, an automated security scan of the electronic message;

based on the automated security scan, transmitting, by the control platform, the electronic message to a wireless terminal using a wireless connection or to an administrator, wherein the wireless terminal is coupled to the control platform, and forwarding a notification associated with the electronic message to alert the inmate of the electronic message;

receiving, by the wireless terminal, the electronic message from the control platform;

authenticating, by the wireless terminal, the inmate when the inmate attempts to login to the wireless terminal;

providing, by the wireless terminal, the electronic message to the authenticated inmate;

facilitating, by the secure platform, a subsequent electronic message conversation between the authenticated inmate and the user using the secure web-based access, wherein the secure platform is integrated within the control platform; and

archiving, to a database, the subsequent electronic message conversation.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting, by the control platform, a notification to the administrator; and storing the electronic message in the database.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wireless terminal is connected exclusively with the control platform.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the approving the login request from the user includes using at least an account and password information.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the performing, by the control platform, the automated security scan of the electronic message includes searching for one or more key words.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

verifying payment for messages in the subsequent electronic message conversation, the payment being based on a length of each of the messages in the subsequent electronic message conversation.

7. A secure electronic message exchange system,

comprising:

a control platform located outside a prison facility;

a database;

a secure platform integrated within the control platform; and

a wireless terminal coupled to the control platform, the wireless terminal being isolated from an internet, the wireless terminal configured to:

authenticate an inmate of the prison facility when the inmate attempts to login to the wireless terminal,

generate an electronic message for a user based on input from the inmate, the user being external to the prison facility, and

transmit the electronic message using a wireless connection to the control platform,

wherein the control platform is configured to:

receive the electronic message from the wireless terminal,

perform an automated security scan of the electronic message,

authenticate the user by determining whether the user is an approved contact for the inmate, and

based on the automated security scan and the authentication of the user, forward the electronic message to the secure platform, and forward a notification associated with the electronic message to a device associated with the user,

wherein the secure platform is configured to:

receive a login request from the device associated with the user in response to receiving the notification associated with the electronic message,

facilitate approval of the login request from the user,

provide secure web-based access to the user upon approval of the login request, and

facilitate a subsequent electronic message conversation between the inmate and the user using the secure web-based access, and

wherein the database is configured to archive the electronic message and the subsequent electronic message conversation.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control platform is further configured to determine whether the electronic message is protected by a legal privilege, and to restrict access to the electronic message if the electronic message is determined to be protected by the legal privilege.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control platform is further configured to allow an administrator to monitor the electronic message and the subsequent electronic message conversation.

10. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control platform is further configured to perform the automated security scan of the electronic message by using language translation.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the secure platform is further configured to verify payment for messages in the subsequent electronic message conversation, the payment based on a length of each of the messages in the subsequent electronic message conversation.

12. The system of claim 7 , wherein the control platform is further configured to authenticate the user by determining that the user is the approved contact based on using one or more of an allowed contact list or a disallowed contact list.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the wireless terminal is further configured to limit a number of attempts by the inmate to login.

14. A secure electronic message exchange system associated with a prison facility, the system comprising:

a control platform located outside the prison facility;

a database;

a wireless terminal coupled to the control platform; and

a secure platform integrated within the control platform, the secure platform configured to:

receive a login request from a remote device associated with a user, wherein the remote device is located outside the prison facility,

facilitate approval of the login request from the user,

provide secure web-based access to the user,

receive an electronic message from the remote device, and

transmit the electronic message to the control platform,

wherein the control platform is configured to:

authenticate the user by determining whether the user is an approved contact for an inmate of the prison facility,

perform an automated security scan of the electronic message, and

based on the automated security scan, transmit the electronic message to the wireless terminal using a wireless connection or to an administrator, and forward a notification associated with the electronic message to alert the inmate of the electronic message,

wherein the wireless terminal is isolated from an internet, and is configured to:

receive the electronic message from the control platform,

authenticate the inmate when the inmate attempts to login to the wireless terminal, and

provide the electronic message to the authenticated inmate,

wherein the secure platform is further configured to:

facilitate a subsequent electronic message conversation between the authenticated inmate and the user using the secure web-based access, and

wherein the database is configured to archive the electronic message and the subsequent electronic message conversation.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control platform is further configured to determine whether the electronic message is protected by a legal privilege, and to restrict access to the electronic message if the electronic message is determined to be protected by the legal privilege.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control platform is further configured to allow the administrator to monitor the electronic message and the subsequent electronic message conversation.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control platform is further configured to perform the automated security scan of the electronic message by using language translation.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the secure platform is further configured to verify payment for messages in the subsequent electronic message conversation, the payment based on a length of each of the messages in the subsequent electronic message conversation.

19. The system of claim 14 , wherein the control platform is further configured to authenticate the user by determining that the user is the approved contact based on using one or more of an allowed contact list or a disallowed contact list.

20. The system of claim 14 , wherein the wireless terminal is further configured to limit a number of attempts by the inmate to login.

Assignments (3)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 7, 2024
From: GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION; DSI-ITI, INC.; VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; TOUCHPAY HOLDINGS, LLC; RENOVO SOFTWARE, INC.; INTELMATE LLC; 3V TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
To: TEXAS CAPITAL BANK, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 068510/0764 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2018
From: HODGE, STEPHEN; WOODY, DAVID
To: VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 047386/0569 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2018
From: VALUE-ADDED COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: GLOBAL TEL*LINK CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 047386/0650 →
Continuity (8)
Continuation 15974108 · May 8, 2018
Continuation 15606818 · May 26, 2017
Continuation 15259439 · Sep 8, 2016
Continuation 14457593 · Aug 12, 2014
Continuation 13941382 · Jul 12, 2013
Continuation 12802641 · Jun 10, 2010
Continuation 10996795 · Nov 24, 2004
Related Publication 20190132364A1 · May 2, 2019
Cited By (4)
US 12,250,187 US 12,323,548 US 12,401,739 US 12,671,766