Multifunction wireless device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9307386-B2
Application number	US-201313946637-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 19, 2013
Priority date	Mar 22, 2013
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

A communication device and system are disclosed for providing communication and data services to residents of a controlled facility. The device can be restricted to communicating only using an internet protocol so as to restrict the device communication to an internal intranet. Wireless access points may be disposed throughout the environment to route calls and data between the device and a central processing center. By converting a protocol of the communications received from the device to a protocol used by the central processing center, minimal modifications to the central processing center are needed to support a wireless communication infrastructure. Many restrictions and safeguards may be implemented within the phone and system in order to prevent improper use.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for providing communication services to a wireless communication device, the system comprising:
a central processing center having one or more circuits and/or processors configured to process call information from the wireless communication device, wherein the processing of the call information includes:
processing payment for the call, the processing payment including:
accessing a Debit Account stored on the server that is associated with the authenticated caller;
verifying that the Debit Account includes sufficient funds for placing the call; and
deducting the payment from the Debit Account;

performing call restriction processing on the call; and
authenticating at least one of the wireless communication device and a caller, the authenticating including:
receiving identifying information associated with the caller; and
matching the received identifying information with identification information previously stored in the server;

a wireless access point communicatively coupled to the central processing center and configured to facilitate direct communication between the wireless communication device and the central processing center; and
a server coupled to the central processing center configured to provide database support for the processing of the call information.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the call restriction processing includes determining whether the called number is a permitted number based on a number list obtained from the external database.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiving identifying information includes prompting the caller for a personal identification number.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the receiving identifying information includes receiving biometric information of the caller from the wireless communication device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing of payment includes:
accessing a Debit Account stored on the server that is associated with the authenticated caller;
verifying that the Debit Account includes sufficient funds for placing the call; and
deducting the payment from the Debit Account.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless access point is configured to communicate with the wireless communication device using an internet protocol.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the wireless access point is configured to convert communications received from the wireless communication device from the internet protocol to a telephone protocol capable of being processed by the central processing center.

8. A method for providing communication services to a wireless communication device, the method comprising:
processing call information from the wireless communication device, the processing of the call information including:
processing payment for the call, the processing payment including:
accessing a Debit Account stored on a server that is associated with the authenticated caller;
verifying that the Debit Account includes sufficient funds for placing the call; and
deducting the payment from the Debit Account;

performing call restriction processing on the call; and
authenticating at least one of the wireless communication device and a caller, the authenticating including:
receiving identifying information associated with the caller; and
matching the received identifying information with identification information previously stored in the server;

facilitating direct communication between the wireless communication device and the central processing center via a wireless access point using an internet protocol,
wherein the server provides database support for the processing of the call information.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the authenticating includes receiving biometric information of the caller from the wireless communication device.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising converting, at a wireless access point, communications received from the wireless communication device from the internet protocol to a telephone protocol capable of being processed by a central processing center.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising forwarding the converted communications to the central processing center over at least one alternating current power line.

12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising forwarding the converted communications to the central processing center over a coaxial cable.

13. A central processing center configured to process call information from a wireless communication device, the central processing center comprising:
one or more circuits and/or processors configured to:
communicate with the wireless communication device via a wireless access point;
process payment for the call, the processing payment including:
accessing a Debit Account stored on a server that is associated with the authenticated caller;
verifying that the Debit Account includes sufficient funds for placing the call; and
deducting the payment from the Debit Account;

performing call restriction processing on the call; and
authenticating at least one of the wireless communication device and a caller, the authenticating including:
receiving identifying information associated with the caller; and
matching the received identifying information with identification information previously stored in the server,

wherein the server provides database support for the processing of the call information.

14. The central processing center of claim 13 , further comprising a wireless antenna coupled to the one or more circuits and/or processors, the wireless antenna configured to facilitate direct communication between the central processing center and the wireless communication device.

15. The central processing center of claim 14 , wherein the one or more circuits and/or processors are further configured to:
receive data from the wireless communication device in a packetized format; and
convert the received data to a Public Switched Telephone Network protocol format.

16. The central processing center of claim 13 , the one or more processors and/or circuits further configured to:
receive a called number from the wireless communication device as part an attempt to make a call; and
assess a minimum cost of the call.

17. The central processing center of claim 16 , the one or more processors and/or circuits further configured to:
query an external database for account balance information associated with the user of the wireless communication device; and
in response to determining that the account balance exceeds the minimum cost of the call, connect the call.

18. The central processing center of claim 17 , the one or more processors and/or circuits further configured to:
determine whether the called number is a permitted number based on a number list obtained from the external database.

19. The central processing center of claim 17 , wherein the number list is obtained as a result of the query of the external database.

Assignees

• Global Tel Link Corp
• Global Tel Link Corp

Inventors

• Hodge Stephen
• Johnson Garth
• Mcnitt Christopher

Classifications

• H04L63/08 Primary

  for authentication of entities (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32) · CPC title

• H04M1/724631

  by limiting the access to the user interface, e.g. locking a touch-screen or a keypad · CPC title

• H04M1/72463

  to restrict the functionality of the device · CPC title

• H04L2463/082

  applying multi-factor authentication · CPC title

• H04M17/02

  Coin-freed or check-freed systems {, e.g. mobile- or card-operated phones, public telephones or booths} · CPC title