Message exchange
AssigneeValue-Added Communications, Inc.
InventorsStephen HODGE, David WOODY
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
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.
Claims21
-20. (canceled)
A platform for processing messages between a calling party and a called party, the platform comprising:
- a call processor configured to attempt to connect an outgoing call by the calling party to the called party;
- a memory that stores a message and a plurality of notification options associated with the message recipient;
- at least one processor and/or circuit coupled to the memory, the at least one processor and/or circuit configured to:
- detect that the outgoing call was not answered by the called party;
- access messaging restrictions associated with the calling party;
- verify that the calling party is authorized to send messages;
- prompt the calling party for a message;
- receive the message from the calling party;
- store the message in the memory;
- and
- carry out a first notification option from among the plurality of notification options in order to attempt to notify the called party of the message.
A method for processing messages between an inmate and an outside party, the platform comprising:
- attempting to connect an outgoing call from the inmate to the outside party;
- detecting that the outgoing call was not answered by the outside party;
- accessing messaging restrictions associated with the calling party;
- verifying that the calling party is authorized to send messages;
- prompting the inmate for a message;
- receiving a message from the inmate;
- storing the message in memory;
- identifying a plurality of notification options based on at least one of the inmate and the outside party;
- and
- performing a first notification option from among the plurality of notification options in order to attempt to notify the outside party of the message
A messaging platform, comprising:
- a call processing system configured to attempt to connect an outgoing call by a calling party to a called party;
- a memory that stores a message and a plurality of notification options associated with the message recipient;
- at least one processor and/or circuit coupled to the memory, the at least one processor and/or circuit configured to:
- detect that the outgoing call was not answered by the called party;
- prompt the calling party for a message;
- receive the message from the calling party;
- store the message in the memory;
- call the called party in order to notify the called party of the message;
- carry out a selected notification option from among the plurality of notification options in order to attempt to notify the called party of the message upon a failure of the call to successfully notify the called party.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.