Virtual inmate visitation

Inventors: Alan Laney (West Chester, OH); William Watson (Liberty Township, OH); Jared Laney (West Chester, OH); Leslie Laney (West Chester, OH); Julie Collinsworth (Cincinnati, OH)

Assignee: Eyconix, LLC

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 8,648,894
App. No.: 13/100,557
Filed: May 4, 2011
Granted: Feb 11, 2014
Kind: B2
Examiner: NGUYEN, PHUNG HOANG JOSEPH
Art Unit: 2656
USPC: 348/14.03

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Abstract

Included are systems and methods for a virtual inmate visitation. Some embodiments include providing a scheduling user interface for a visitor to schedule a video visitation, receiving a visitor scheduling request for the video visitation with an inmate, and determining a visitor type for the visitor. Some embodiments include providing, based on the visitor type, a scheduling option, providing a visitor payment mechanism that depends on the visitor type, and providing a video visitation user interface to the visitor for conducting the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate. Still some embodiment include in response to receiving a visitor input, conduct the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate, determining whether the video visitation includes an unacceptable activity and performing a preventative measure.

Claims (52)

1. A method for virtual inmate visitation, comprising:

providing a scheduling user interface for a visitor to schedule a video visitation;

receiving a visitor scheduling request for the video visitation with an inmate;

providing a registration user interface that includes an option for the visitor to identify a visitor type for the visitor, wherein the registration user interface is different, depending on the visitor type, and wherein the visitor type includes at least one of the following: family, friend, clergy, and legal counsel;

providing, based on a visitor input regarding the visitor type, a scheduling option, wherein the scheduling option changes based on the visitor type, wherein friends and family have a subset of scheduling options as clergy and legal counsel;

providing, based on visitor input regarding the visitor type, a visitor payment mechanism that depends on the visitor type, wherein the visitor payment mechanism and a charge rate for the visitor changes based on the visitor type;

providing a video visitation user interface to the visitor for conducting the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate;

in response to receiving a visitor input, conducting the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate;

determining whether the video visitation includes an unacceptable activity; and

in response to determining that the video visitation includes the unacceptable activity, begin recording the video visitation and performing, by a computing device, a preventative measure.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the visitor type includes at least one of the following: friend, family, attorney, clergy, law enforcement, and social services.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining that the video visitation includes the unacceptable activity includes at least one of the following: utilizing voice recognition to determine whether the video visitation includes an inappropriate word and utilizing video recognition to determine whether the video visitation includes an inappropriate gesture.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein performing the preventative measure includes at least one of the following: restricting visitation rights of the visitor, increasing a cost to the visitor of a future video visitation, and restricting visitation rights of the inmate.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an inmate user interface to the inmate for conducting the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising providing the inmate user interface to an administrator.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a search user interface to facilitate a search for the inmate for scheduling the video visitation.

8. A system for virtual visitation, comprising:

a memory component that stores video visitation logic that, when executed by the system, causes the system to perform at least the following:

provide an introductory user interface that includes an option for a visitor to select a visitor type;

determine, from a visitor selection of the option, the visitor type for the visitor, wherein the registration user interface is different, depending on the visitor type, and wherein the visitor type includes at least one of the following: family, friend, clergy, and legal counsel;

provide a scheduling user interface for the visitor to schedule a video visitation, wherein friends and family have a subset of scheduling options as clergy and legal counsel;

receive a visitor scheduling request for the video visitation with an inmate;

provide, based on the visitor type, a scheduling option, wherein the scheduling option changes based on the visitor type;

provide a visitor payment mechanism that depends on the visitor type, wherein the visitor payment mechanism changes based on the visitor type;

provide a video visitation user interface to the visitor for conducting the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate;

in response to receiving a visitor input, conduct the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate;

determine whether the video visitation includes an unacceptable activity; and

in response to determining that the video visitation includes the unacceptable activity, perform a preventative measure.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the visitor type includes at least one of the following: friend, family, attorney, clergy, law enforcement, and social services.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein determining that the video visitation includes the unacceptable activity includes at least one of the following: utilizing voice recognition to determine whether the video visitation includes an inappropriate word and utilizing video recognition to determine whether the video visitation includes an inappropriate gesture.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein performing the preventative measure includes at least one of the following: restricting visitation rights of the visitor, increasing a cost to the visitor of a future video visitation, and restricting visitation rights of the inmate.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the video visitation logic further causes the system to provide an inmate user interface to the inmate for conducting the video visitation between the visitor and the inmate.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the video visitation logic further causes the system to provide the inmate user interface to an administrator.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the video visitation logic further causes the system to provide a search user interface to facilitate a search for the inmate for scheduling the video visitation.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for virtual inmate visitation that stores logic that when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform at least the following:

provide a registration user interface for registering a visitor;

determining, from a visitor selection on the registration user interface, a visitor type, wherein the registration user interface is different, depending on the visitor type, and wherein the visitor type includes at least one of the following: family, friend, clergy, and legal counsel;