Patent · US Expired

Inmate messaging system and method

US6665380B1 · kind B1 · utility

119Cited by
91References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 11, 1999
Grant dateDec 16, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 11, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M2203/6045
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An inmate messaging system and method for notifying an inmate in a prison facility of messages received from a caller outside the prison facility. The caller dials into the inmate messaging system using, for example, a conventional “touch tone” telephone. The caller is prompted by the system for identifying information, which is verified against known information in a database. Identifying information can include a PIN for verifying the caller's account. During a set-up session, the system prompts the caller to record her name. The name recording is used to verify the account when the caller leaves a message for the inmate, and is also used to identify the account when the inmate retrieves the message from within the prison. The caller can specify a time with the message for returning the telephone call, or have the call placed immediately. The inmate accesses the inmate messaging system via a prison telephone. If messages are pending for inmates residing in the vicinity of the phone, the inmate is provided with an option to retrieve a list of such pending messages. To hear specific messages, the inmate enters identifying information, such as a PIN. If the PIN is succes…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.