Digital Telecommunications Call Management and Monitoring System

Abstract

The present invention discloses a centralized, digital, computer-based telephone call management system for authenticating users of a telephone system in an institutional facility. The system includes the capacity to allow an institution to control, record, monitor, and bill and report usage and access to a telephone network. The telephone call management system further includes both accounting and management software for use in controlling, monitoring, billing, recording, and reporting usage and access. Also, it can operate over both a Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN) and a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) infrastructure.

1 . An inmate telecommunication call processing system, which comprises:
 a plurality of trunk lines of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN);   at least one telephone terminal at an institution for making a telephone call;   a central platform for connecting said telephone call to an external party remotely located; and   an administrative workstation for connecting to said at least one telephone terminal;   wherein said central platform is coupled to said plurality of trunk lines and coupled to said at least one telephone terminal;   wherein said central platform is remotely located from said institution; and   wherein said administrative workstation monitors a conversation in said telephone call without detection by said user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , which further comprises at least one routing means for routing said telephone call between said telephone terminal and said central platform. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said central platform comprises one or more apparatuses for processing said telephone call. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more apparatuses controls telephonic communication between said at least one telephone terminal and said plurality of trunk lines. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more apparatuses records conversations in said telephone call between a local user associated with said telephone call and said external party. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more apparatuses digitizes and stores audio for caller identification. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more apparatuses transmits information regarding billing for said telephone call to said administrative workstation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said telephone call is connected to said external party upon verifying identification information of said local user. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein said telephone call is connected to said external party upon authorizing said external party as an acceptable contact. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , which further comprises at least one workstation for monitoring, controlling, storing and billing related to said telephone call. 
     
     
         11 . An inmate telecommunication call processing system, which comprises:
 at least one network connection;   at least one telephone terminal at an institution for making a telephone call;   a central platform for connecting said telephone call to an external party remotely located;   at least one gateway connected between said at least one telephone terminal and said central platform; and   an administrative workstation for monitoring a telephonic communication in said telephone call without detection by said at least one telephone terminal;   wherein said central platform is coupled to said at least one network connection and coupled to said at least one telephone terminal;   wherein said central platform is remotely located from said institution; and   wherein said administrative workstation monitors a conversation in said telephone call without detection by said user.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one network connection is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) connection. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said gateway connects said telephone call to said central platform via said at least one network connection. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said gateway comprises routers for connecting to said central platform. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said gateway enables mixed environment operation. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said telephone call is connected to said external party upon verifying identification information of a local user associated with said telephone call. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said telephone call is connected to said external party upon authorizing said external party as an acceptable contact. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , which further comprises at least one workstation for monitoring, controlling, storing and billing related to said telephone call. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said central platform digitally records said telephonic communication.