Integration of cellular phone detection and reporting into a prison telephone system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12199748-B2
Application number	US-202318223418-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 18, 2023
Priority date	Aug 16, 2006
Publication date	Jan 14, 2025
Grant date	Jan 14, 2025

Abstract

The present subject matter is directed to an apparatus and methodology for monitoring for the occurrence of use of unauthorized telecommunications equipment within a designated area. The present subject matter has particular utility to the corrections environment in that it discloses a methodology for detecting and reporting the unauthorized operation of cellular telephones within a corrections facility. The present technology may be used advantageously in combination with inmate telephone systems to transmit information to appropriate personnel in the form of email messages and/or voice communications by way of telephone local or corrections facility external telephone lines. The present technology also provides for recordation and storage of time, date and location information for detected events.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for controlling unauthorized device usage within a controlled environment facility, comprising:
a memory that stores location information of a plurality of signal jammers distributed throughout the controlled environment facility; and
one or more processors configured to:
receive detection information from a plurality of detection devices located within the controlled environment facility that indicates a presence of an unauthorized device, the detection information including at least one of a detection device identifier or location information and a corresponding signal strength associated with the unauthorized device;
receive an alert indicating an emergency situation, the emergency situation including one of a hostage situation or a riot situation;
initiate a jamming procedure in response to the alert, the jamming procedure including:
identifying a signal jammer from among the plurality of signal jammers located nearest to a location of the unauthorized device; and
causing the signal jammer located nearest to the location of the unauthorized device to jam wireless communications;

triangulate, based on the received signal strengths from the plurality of detection devices, a precise location of the unauthorized device; and
transmit a message to security personnel that includes the precise location.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the unauthorized device is a wireless communication device.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the identifying includes comparing the location of the unauthorized device to the stored location information of the plurality of signal jammers.

4. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to determine the location of the unauthorized device based on the detection device identifier and a stored location of a detection device.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein a detection device is associated with a zone within the controlled environment facility.

6. The device of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of detection devices is associated with a corresponding region of the controlled environment facility.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to deactivate the plurality of signal jammers when not in the emergency situation.

8. A method for controlling unauthorized device usage within a controlled environment facility, comprising:
storing location information of a plurality of signal jammers distributed throughout the controlled environment facility;
receiving detection information from a plurality of detection devices located within the controlled environment facility that indicates a presence of an unauthorized device, the detection information including at least one of a detection device identifier or location information and a corresponding signal strength associated with the unauthorized device;
receiving an alert indicating an emergency situation, the emergency situation including one of a hostage situation or a riot situation;
initiating a jamming procedure in response to the alert, the jamming procedure including:
identifying a signal jammer from among the plurality of signal jammers located nearest to a location of the unauthorized device; and
causing the signal jammer located nearest to the location of the unauthorized device to jam wireless communications;

triangulating, based on the received signal strengths from the plurality of detection devices, a precise location of the unauthorized device; and
transmitting a message to security personnel that includes the precise location.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the unauthorized device is a wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the identifying includes comparing the location of the unauthorized device to the stored location information of the plurality of signal jammers.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining the location of the unauthorized device based on the detection device identifier and a stored location of a detection device.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein a detection device is associated with a zone within the controlled environment facility.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of detection devices is associated with a corresponding region of the controlled environment facility.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising deactivating the plurality of signal jammers when not in the emergency situation.

Assignees

• Global Telstarlink Corp

Inventors

• Johnson Garth

Classifications

• H04K3/84

  related to preventing electromagnetic interference in petrol station, hospital, plane or cinema · CPC title

• H04K2203/18

  for wireless local area networks or WLAN · CPC title

• H04K2203/16

  for telephony · CPC title

• H04K2203/34

  involving multiple cooperating jammers · CPC title

• H04K3/45

  characterized by including monitoring of the target or target signal, e.g. in reactive jammers or follower jammers for example by means of an alternation of jamming phases and monitoring phases, called "look-through mode" · CPC title