Contraband detection through smart power components
A method and system for contraband detection is provided that allows for the determining whether devices are authorized to receive power from an outlet. A power adapter and/or an outlet authenticate a device when it is connected to the outlet through the power adapter. On the basis of this authentication, a determination is made whether the devices are to receive power from the outlet. If the device is authorized, the outlet is activated, transitioning from inactive state (where no power is relayed through the outlet) to an active state (where power is relayed through the outlet).
1. A method for contraband detection within a controlled environment, comprising:
receiving, at a smart outlet, adapter identification information associated with a smart power adapter connected to the smart outlet and user identification information associated with a user of a device connected to the smart outlet via the smart power adapter;
determining, based on the adapter identification information and the user identification information, that the device is authorized to receive power from the smart outlet;
activating the smart power adapter from an inactive state to an active state in response to the device being authorized;
relaying, after the smart adapter is activated to the active state, the power from the smart outlet to the device through the smart power adapter connected between the smart outlet and the device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving the user identification information comprises:
activating a camera on the device;
causing the camera to capture image data of the user of the device; and
receiving the image data from the device, wherein the user identification information comprises the image data.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the device is authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet comprises:
retrieving a list of authorized identifiers associated with devices that are authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet;
comparing the adapter identification information to the list of authorized identifiers; and
identifying the device as being authorized or not authorized based on the comparing.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising, in response to the device being identified as not authorized:
transmitting an alert message to a monitoring center; and
maintaining the smart adapter in the inactive state.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the alert message is transmitted over a second connection between the smart outlet and the monitoring center, the second connection being a wireless connection or a powerline connection.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining whether the device is authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet comprises:
transmitting the adapter identification information and the user identification information to a monitoring center; and
receiving a contraband response from the monitoring center, wherein the contraband response indicates whether the device is authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
querying, by the smart power outlet through the smart power adapter, the device for device identification information associated with the device.
8. A smart outlet for detecting contraband within a controlled environment, comprising:
a memory; and
a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving, at the smart outlet, adapter identification information associated with a smart power adapter connected to the smart outlet and user identification information associated with a user of a device connected to the smart outlet via the smart power adapter;
determining, based on the adapter identification information and the user identification information, that the device is authorized to receive power from the smart outlet;
activating the smart power adapter from an inactive state to an active state in response to the device being authorized;
relaying, after the smart adapter is activated to the active state, the power from the smart outlet to the device through the smart power adapter connected between the smart outlet and the device; and
updating history information of the smart outlet based on the adapter identification information and the user identification information.
9. The smart outlet of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
activating a camera on the device;
causing the camera to capture image data of the user of the device; and
receiving the image data from the device, wherein the user identification information comprises the image data.
10. The smart outlet of claim 8 , wherein determining that the device is authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet comprises:
retrieving a list of authorized identifiers associated with devices that are authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet;
comparing the adapter identification information to the list of authorized identifiers; and
identifying the device as being authorized or not authorized based on the comparing.
11. The smart outlet of claim 10 , the operations further comprising, in response to identifying the device as not being authorized:
transmitting an alert message to a monitoring center; and
maintaining the smart adapter in the inactive state.
12. The smart outlet of claim 11 , wherein the alert message is transmitted over a second connection between the smart outlet and the monitoring center, the second connection being a wireless connection or a powerline connection.
13. The smart outlet of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
transmitting the adapter identification information and the user identification information information to a monitoring center; and
receiving a contraband response from the monitoring center, wherein the contraband response indicates that the device is authorized or not authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet.
14. The smart outlet of claim 8 , the operations further comprising:
querying, by the smart power outlet through the smart power adapter, the device for device identification information associated with the device.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor in a wireless device, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
receiving, at a smart outlet, adapter identification information associated with a smart power adapter connected to the smart outlet and user identification information associated with a user of a device connected to the smart outlet via the smart power adapter;
determining, based on the adapter identification information and the user identification information, that the device is authorized to receive power from the smart outlet;
activating the smart power adapter from an inactive state to an active state in response to the device being authorized;
relaying, after the smart adapter is activated to the active state, the power from the smart outlet to the device through the smart power adapter connected between the smart outlet and the device.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , the operations further comprising:
updating history information associated with the smart outlet based on the user identification information, smart power adapter identification information, and smart outlet identification information.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein determining that the device is authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet comprises:
retrieving a list of authorized identifiers associated with devices that are authorized to receive power from the smart outlet;
comparing the adapter identification information to the list of authorized identifiers; and
identifying the device as being authorized or not authorized based on the comparing.
18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17 , the operations further comprising, in response to the device being identified as not authorized, transmitting an alert message to a monitoring center.
19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein determining whether the device is authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet comprises:
transmitting the user identification information and the adapter identification information to the smart outlet; and
receiving a contraband response from the smart outlet, wherein the contraband response indicates whether the device is authorized to receive the power from the smart outlet.