Voice 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.
Claims18
A computer implemented method for providing message communication between an inmate of a secured premises and an outside party, the method comprising:
- receiving a telephone call from the outside party;
- authenticating the outside party during the telephone call;
- recording, after the outside party has been authenticated, an incoming audio message of the outside party designated for the inmate;
- notifying the inmate of the recorded incoming audio message, the notifying of the inmate including:
- retrieving, from a database, a device address of an electronic personal inmate device assigned to the inmate;
- generating an electronic notification;
- and
- electronically transmitting the electronic notification to the device address;
- authenticating the inmate;
- providing access to a personal account by the authenticated inmate;
- playing back the recorded incoming audio message for the authenticated inmate;
- recording an outgoing audio message by the authenticated inmate designated for the outside party;
- notifying the outside party of the recorded outgoing audio message, the notifying of the outside party including:
- placing a call to the outside party;
- and
- prompting the outside party to accept or reject the recorded outgoing audio message;
- and
- upon the outside party rejecting the recorded outgoing audio message:
- prompting the outside party whether to block calls from the inmate;
- terminating the call with the outside party;
- deleting the recorded outgoing audio message;
- and
- notifying the inmate of the rejection and whether the outside party has requested that calls from the inmate be blocked.
A system for providing message communication between an inmate of a secured premises and an outside party, the system comprising:
- a site platform configured to:
- receive a telephone call from the outside party;
- authenticate the outside party during the telephone call;
- record, after the outside party has been authenticated, an incoming audio message of the outside party designated for the inmate;
- notify the inmate of the recorded incoming audio message, the notifying of the inmate including:
- retrieving, from a database, a device address of an electronic personal inmate device assigned to the inmate;
- generating an electronic notification;
- and
- electronically transmitting the electronic notification to the device address, authenticate the inmate;
- provide access to a personal account by the authenticated inmate;
- and
- play back the recorded incoming audio message for the authenticated inmate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.