Message exchange
Disclosed is a voice message exchange system and method for improving communication between an inmate and a third party by enabling the inmate to leave a message when a call is not answered and further allowing the third party who receives the message to reply with a message to the inmate. Additionally, outside parties that meet the institution's requirements can leave messages for inmates at any time. The present invention can be used as an add-on to legacy inmate call management systems or incorporated internally into an inmate call management system. The system also provides monitoring, controlling, recording, and billing means.
1. A centralized calling platform that provides telecommunication and message services for a correctional facility, the platform comprising:
a memory; and
at least one processor and/or circuit coupled to the memory, the at least one processor and/or circuit configured to:
receive a phone call from a registered user designated for a destination phone number;
attempt to connect the phone call to a destination user associated with the destination phone number;
receive a message from the registered user after the connection attempt has failed;
record the received message;
attempt to contact the destination user at the destination phone number at periodic intervals until either a first predetermined event or a second predetermined event;
in response to an occurrence of the first predetermined event, authenticate the destination user and deliver the recorded message to the destination user after the user has been successfully authenticated;
in response to an occurrence of the second predetermined event, store the recorded message in the memory; and
generate a message notification for the inmate only after the content check has passed.
2. The centralized calling platform of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to:
receive a unique access identifier from the registered user; and
authenticate the registered user based on the unique access identifier.
3. The centralized calling platform of claim 2 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to verify that the registered user is permitted to contact the destination user based on the unique access identifier.
4. The centralized calling platform of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to bill an account associated with the registered user after the message is delivered to the destination user.
5. The centralized calling platform of claim 1 ,
wherein the message is an audio message, and
wherein the delivery of the message includes playing back the message.
6. The centralized calling platform of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to store a number of contact attempts in the memory,
wherein the second predetermined event is the number of contact attempts being equal to a maximum number of contact attempts.
7. The centralized calling platform of claim 6 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to delete the message after occurrence of the second predetermined event.
8. The centralized calling platform of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to, in the event of a successful contact attempt, prompt the destination user to accept the message.
9. The centralized calling platform of claim 8 , wherein the message is delivered only after the destination user has accepted the message.
10. The centralized calling platform of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to connect the registered user with the destination user after the connection attempt has succeeded.
11. A centralized calling platform for providing call processing functionality and message services for a plurality of correctional facilities, the centralized call platform comprising:
a memory that stores a message provided by an external user location outside of the plurality of correctional facilities, the message being designated for an inmate located at one of the correctional facilities;
at least one processor and/or circuit coupled to the memory, the at least one processor and/or circuit configured to:
receive an access attempt from the external user;
authenticate the external user in response to the access attempt;
receive the message from the external user after successfully authenticating the external user;
store the message from the external user in the memory together with an identification of the inmate; and
perform a content check of the message to detect restricted language, the content check detecting whether the message includes restricted content;
attempt to contact the inmate in response to the content check verifying that the message does not contain restricted language; and
forward the message to an administrator in response to the content check failing.
12. The centralized calling platform of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to:
determine whether the external user has an account registered with the centralized calling platform;
prompt the external user to register an account after determining that the external user does not have a registered account.
13. The centralized calling platform of claim 12 , wherein the prompting includes performing an account registration procedure over the phone.
14. The centralized calling platform of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to:
determine whether the account registration procedure was successful; and
repeat the call registration procedure a predetermined number of times or until the determining determines that the account registration was successful.
15. The centralized calling platform of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to:
retrieve a previously-stored message generated by a user at one of the plurality of correctional facilities that is designated for the external user; and
deliver the message to the external user.
16. The centralized calling platform of claim 11 , wherein the previously-stored message is an audio message, and
wherein the delivering includes playing back the message.
17. The centralized calling platform of claim 11 , wherein the at least one processor and/or circuit are further configured to generate a message notification for the inmate user after receiving the message from the external user.