# US 10,321,094 B2 · Secure video visitation system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,321,094 B2 - Document ID: US10321094B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/621,676 - Filed: 2017-06-13 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Granted: 2019-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2016-01-20 - Assignees: Global Tel*Link Corporation - Applicants: Global Tel*Link Corporation - Inventors: Stephen L. Hodge; Anthony Bambocci - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10321094B2 ## CPC - H04N 7/147: {Communication arrangements, e.g. identifying the communication as a video-communication, intermediate storage of the signals (selecting H04Q)} - G07C 9/37: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition - H04L 65/1059: End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication - H04L 65/1069: Session establishment or de-establishment - H04M 3/38: Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections (queuing arrangements H04Q3/64) - H04N 7/142: {Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display} - H04M 3/382: {using authorisation codes or passwords} - H04M 3/385: {using speech signals} - H04M 2201/50: Telephonic communication in combination with video communication - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract Video conferencing in a controlled environment facility entails significant security concerns. These concerns are even more prevalent in a system that permits residents of such facilities to communicate via their own personal devices. Therefore, in order to alleviate these concerns and provide a secure system in which a resident is able to make video calls using their personal device, a kiosk unit is provided to which the personal device must be linked for completing a video call. When making the video call, the camera and display on the personal device are disabled, and all video data is captured and displayed by the kiosk unit. The link between the kiosk unit and the personal device facilitates the exchange of the image information for transmission to the outside party, or display to the user. By providing a fixed camera, and disabling the personal device camera, security can be maintained while permitting video calling services. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A personal electronics device, comprising: an image capture device; a display device; an input control device; a kiosk interface configured to interface with an external device via a communication link; a communication device configured to communicate with a server; and one or more processors and/or circuits configured to: detect a connection to a kiosk via the kiosk interface; disable the image capture device in response to the detecting the connection; establish a video call connection with a called party; receive incoming video call data; output the received video call data to the external device; receive outgoing video call data from the external device; and transmit the outgoing video call data to the server. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The personal electronics device of claim 1, wherein the received incoming video call data is received from the called party. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The personal electronics device of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to disable the display device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The personal electronics device of claim 1, further comprising a biometric data capture device, wherein the one or more processors and/or circuits are further configured to authenticate the user using biometric data acquired by the biometric data capture device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The personal electronics device of claim 1, wherein the image capture device includes the biometric data capture device, and wherein the biometric data capture device captures the biometric data prior to the image capture device being disabled. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The personal electronics device of claim 5, wherein the biometric data includes at least one of faceprint or iris data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The personal electronics device of claim 1, wherein the communication link is a hardwired link, and wherein the communication device communicates wirelessly with the server. ### Claim 8 A video calling kiosk, comprising: a display; an image capture device; a device interface; and one or more processors and/or circuits configured to: establish a communication link with an inmate device via the device interface; cause the inmate device to disable a camera associated with the inmate device in response to the establishing of the communication link; capture image data using the image capture device; forward the captured image data to the inmate device; receive display image data from the inmate device, the display image data corresponding to video communication data received by the inmate device; and display received image data using the display. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The video calling kiosk of claim 8, further comprising a communication device configured to communicate with a central server. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The video calling kiosk of claim 9, wherein the device interface is configured to receive authentication data from the inmate device, and wherein the communication device is configured to transmit the received authentication data to the central server. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The video calling kiosk of claim 9, wherein the communication device is configured to connect a video call to an outside party, and wherein the communication device is configured to disconnect the video call upon detecting that the communication link with the inmate device has been severed. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The video calling kiosk of claim 8, wherein the device interface is configured to transmit captured image data to the inmate device via the communication link. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The video calling kiosk of claim 12, wherein the device interface is configured to receive image data from the inmate device via the communication link. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The video calling kiosk of claim 13, wherein the display is configured to display the received image data. ### Claim 15 A method for video calling, the method comprising: establishing a communication link between a personal device and a kiosk device; in response to the establishment of the communication link: enabling a camera and a display of the kiosk device; and disabling a camera and a display of the personal device; capturing image data using the camera of the kiosk device; and transmitting the captured image data to a central server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting of the captured image data is performed by the kiosk device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising forwarding the captured image data to the personal device via the communication link. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the personal device performs the transmitting of the captured image data to the central server. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: the personal device receiving incoming image data from the central server; and the personal device transferring the incoming image data to the kiosk device via the communication link. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, further comprising the kiosk device displaying the received incoming image data on the display of the kiosk device.