Restricting video or other services for personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices to specific areas
Personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices deployed within a controlled-environment facility each have a device identification apparatus (e.g. RFID tag). Interrogators and/or readers disposed within zone(s) defined within the controlled-environment facility identify, recognize, or otherwise read the device identification apparatus(es). A controlled-environment facility management system and/or a controlled-environment facility communications processing system coupled to the interrogators and/or readers determine whether a particular personal device entering, attempting to operate in, leaving, or outside a particular zone is authorized to operate in that zone and/or is authorized to operate one or more particular apps in that zone, based upon the device identification apparatus identified, recognized, or otherwise read by the interrogator and/or reader within that zone. Commands are sent to an identified personal device and/or to an app operating on the device, based on whether the particular device and/or app is authorized to operate in or outside that zone.
1. A system restricting use of personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices within a controlled-environment facility, the system comprising:
one or more personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices deployed within a controlled-environment facility, each personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device comprising a device identification apparatus, and each personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device adapted for use in the controlled-environment facility to an extent and/or nature of operations the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in one or more zones defined within the controlled-environment facility;
device identification apparatus interrogators and/or readers, each disposed within a zone defined within the controlled-environment facility and configured to identify, recognize, or otherwise read the device identification apparatus; and
a controlled-environment facility management system and/or controlled-environment facility communications processing system coupled to the device identification apparatus interrogators and/or readers and configured to:
determine whether a particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in a particular zone is authorized to operate in the particular zone and/or authorized to operate one or more particular application programs in the particular zone, based upon the device identification apparatus identified, recognized, or otherwise read by a device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader disposed within the particular zone;
send first commands to the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or to one or more application programs operating on the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device, based on whether the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is authorized to operate in the particular zone and/or the one or more application programs is authorized to operate in the particular zone on the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device;
determine when the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices moves out of the particular zone; and
send second commands to the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or to the one or more application programs, based on the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of the particular zone and based on the extent and/or nature of operations the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in that particular zone and/or the one or more application programs are authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in that particular zone.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the commands sent to the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or to one or more application programs include commands based on an extent and/or nature of operations the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is authorized to carry-out in the particular zone and/or the one or more application programs are authorized to carry-out in the particular zone.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first commands sent to the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or to one or more application programs includes commands activating or enabling one or more cameras of the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or activating or enabling use of one or more cameras of the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device by the one or more application programs.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first commands sent to the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or to the one or more application programs includes commands deactivating or disabling one or more functions of the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or the one or more application programs, based on an extent and/or nature of operations the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is authorized to carry-out in the particular zone and/or the one or more application programs are authorized to carry-out in the particular zone.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second commands sent to the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or to the one or more application programs includes commands deactivating or disabling one or more cameras of the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or deactivating or disenabling use of one or more cameras of the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device by the one or more application programs.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second commands sent to the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or to the one or more application programs includes commands activating or enabling one or more functions of the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device and/or activating or enabling use of one or more functions of the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device by the one or more application programs, based on an extent and/or nature of operations the particular personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in the particular zone and/or the one or more application programs are authorized to carry-out other than in the particular zone.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device identification apparatus is a radio frequency identification apparatus.
8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the radio frequency identification apparatus is a passive radio frequency identification chip and the device identification apparatus interrogators and/or readers are each configured to:
send out an energetic radio signal within the particular zone the interrogator and/or reader is disposed, illuminating radio frequency identification apparatuses of personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices entering or attempting to operate in the particular zone; and
read a response from any passive radio frequency identification apparatuses of personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices entering or attempting to operate in the particular zone.
9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the radio frequency identification apparatus is an active radio frequency identification chip and the device identification apparatus interrogators and/or readers are each configured to:
send out a radio signal within the particular zone the interrogator and/or reader is disposed to radio frequency identification apparatuses of personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices entering or attempting to operate in the particular zone; and
read a response from any active radio frequency identification apparatuses of personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices entering or attempting to operate in the particular zone.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the device identification apparatus is an optical identification apparatus.
11. A method for restricting use of personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices within a controlled-environment facility, the method comprising:
adapting personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices for use within the controlled-environment facility to an extent and/or nature of operations the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in one or more zones defined within the controlled-environment facility;
identifying, recognizing or otherwise reading, by a device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader disposed within a zone defined within the controlled-environment facility, a device identification apparatus of each personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone;
determining, by a controlled-environment facility management system and/or controlled-environment facility communications processing system coupled to the device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader, whether a personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, is authorized to operate in the zone, based upon the device identification apparatus identified, recognized or otherwise read by the device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader;
sending first commands, by the controlled-environment facility management system and/or controlled-environment facility communications processing system, to the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or to the one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, based on whether the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or the one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, is authorized to operate in the zone;
determining, by the controlled-environment facility management system and/or controlled-environment facility communications processing system, when a personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is moving and/or moves out of the zone; and
sending second commands, by the controlled-environment facility management system and/or controlled-environment facility communications processing system, to the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving and/or moved out of the zone, and/or the one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving and/or moved out of the zone, based on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of the zone and based on the extent and/or nature of operations the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of or moved out of the zone, and/or the one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of or moved out of the zone, are authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in that zone.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the commands sent to personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices, and/or to one or more application programs, include commands based on an extent and/or nature of operations the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device, and/or to one or more application programs, are authorized to carry-out in the zone.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first commands sent to the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or to one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, include commands activating or enabling one or more cameras of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device, and/or activating or enabling use of one or more cameras of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone for use by the one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the first commands sent to the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or to one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, include commands deactivating or disabling one or more functions of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or deactivating or disabling one or more functions of the one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, based on an extent and/or nature of operations the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or the one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, are authorized to carry-out in the zone.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the second commands sent to the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or to the one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, include commands deactivating or disabling one or more cameras of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device, and/or deactivating or disenabling use of one or more cameras of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, by the one or more application programs.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the second commands sent to the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of or moved out of the zone, and/or to one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of or moved out of the zone, include commands activating or enabling one or more functions of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of or moved out of the zone, and/or activating or enabling use of one or more functions of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of or moved out of the zone by the one or more application programs, based on an extent and/or nature of operations the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of or moved out of the zone, and/or the one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving out of or moved out of the zone, are authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in the zone.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the device identification apparatus is a radio frequency identification apparatus.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the radio frequency identification apparatus is a passive radio frequency identification chip and the method further comprises:
sending out, by the device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader, an energetic radio signal within the zone, illuminating a radio frequency identification apparatus of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device, while in the zone; and
reading, by the device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader, a response from the passive radio frequency identification apparatus of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device, while in the zone.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the radio frequency identification apparatus is an active radio frequency identification chip and the method further comprises:
sending out, by the device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader, a radio signal within the zone to the radio frequency identification apparatus of the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device, while in the zone; and
reading, by the device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader, a response from the active radio frequency identification apparatuses of personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device, while in the zone.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the device identification apparatus is an optical identification apparatus.
21. A computer readable non-transitory medium having program instructions stored thereon that upon execution by a controlled-environment facility management system and/or controlled-environment facility communications processing system, cause the a controlled-environment facility management system and/or controlled-environment facility communications processing system to:
approve use, within the controlled-environment facility, of personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data devices each adapted to an extent and/or nature of operations the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in one or more zones defined within the controlled-environment facility;
receive identification of a device identification apparatus of each personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in a zone defined within the controlled-environment facility from a device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader disposed within the zone and coupled to the controlled-environment facility management system and/or controlled-environment facility communications processing system;
determine whether the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, are authorized to operate in the zone, based upon the device identification apparatus identified by the device identification apparatus interrogator and/or reader disposed within the zone;
send one or more commands to the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, based on whether the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, and/or one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device entering or attempting to operate in the zone, are authorized to operate in the zone;
determine when a personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is moving and/or moves out of the zone; and
send one or more different or same commands to the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving and/or moved out of the zone, and/or one or more application programs operating on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving and/or moved out of the zone, based on the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device moving or having moved out of the zone and based on the extent and/or nature of operations the personal controlled-environment facility resident communication and/or data device is authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in that zone and/or the one or more application programs are authorized to carry-out within the controlled-environment facility other than in that zone.