Secure exchange of digital content

Abstract

The invention includes delivering and monitoring digital content distributed to correctional facility inmates, giving supervisory authorities the ability to screen the incoming digital content. Digital content can include email, and stored and steamed video content, and can be scanned for keywords by supervisory authorities before delivery to an inmate. A computer kiosk can be used by inmates to view and record digital video content. A portable player is provided to inmates which can be used to play, and in some embodiments record, digital content. The player is issued to a particular inmate, and can only be used with respect to that particular inmate's digital content. The kiosk, and in some embodiments, the player, can be used to shop for items available at a store, for example a commissary.

1 . A system for managing an exchange of digital content between inmates in a correctional facility and non-inmates, comprising:
 at least one computer server having a processor and connected to software stored on non-transitory media, the server software configure to—
 obtain digital content from inmates or non-inmates, 
 store the digital content until a staffperson of the correctional facility approves distribution of the digital content to an intended recipient, and 
 distribute the digital content to the intended recipient if approved; and 
   at least one inmate device having a processor, a digital display, and controls, the inmate device including software stored on non-transitory media, the device software configured to—
 read stored assignment data pertaining to an inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software, 
 connect to the at least one computer server and transmit information pertaining to the inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software, 
 obtain approved digital content distributed by the server software and intended for the particular inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device connected to the at least one computer server, and 
 present the digital content. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the server software further configured to analyze the digital content to create a result set of keywords in the digital content. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , the server software further configured to report the result set to a staffperson of the correctional facility. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital content is video content. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital content is streaming audio content, the digital audio content stored by the server software for a delay period sufficient to enable correctional facility staff to monitor and interrupt the stream if non-authorized content is streamed. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital content is streaming video content, the digital video content stored by the server software for a delay period sufficient to enable correctional facility staff to monitor and interrupt the stream if non-authorized content is streamed. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inmate device software is further configured to:
 obtain information pertaining to commissary items available for sale from the at least one server; and   enable an inmate to select and request items from the obtained information, using the inmate device.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inmate device software is further configured to:
 obtain information pertaining to digital content available for downloading into the inmate device;   enable an inmate to select and request digital content for downloading; and   connect to the at least one server to obtain the digital content.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inmate device software is further configured to allocate credits assigned to the inmate to pay a cost of obtaining the digital content. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inmate device is configured to only carry out an exchange of digital content with at least one of the at least one server. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the inmate device is configured to be unopenable by an inmate without using tools. 
     
     
         12 . A system for managing an exchange of digital content between inmates in a correctional facility and non-inmates, comprising:
 at least one computer server having a processor and connected to software stored on non-transitory media, the server software configure to—
 obtain digital video content from inmates or non-inmates, 
 delay distribution of at least a portion of the digital video content until a staffperson of the correctional facility approves transmission of the at least a portion of digital video content to an intended recipient, and 
 distribute the digital video content to the intended recipient if approved; and 
   at least one inmate device having a processor, a digital display, and controls, the inmate device including software stored on non-transitory media, the device software configured to—
 read stored assignment data pertaining to an inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software, 
 connect to the at least one computer server and transmit information pertaining to the inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software, 
 obtain the distributed digital video content distributed by the server software and intended for the particular inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device connected to the at least one computer server, and 
 present the video digital content. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , the server software further configured to analyze the video digital content to create a result set of keywords in the digital content. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , the server software further configured to report the result set to a staffperson of the correctional facility. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the delay is sufficient to enable correctional facility staff to monitor and interrupt the video digital content if the digital video content contains non-authorized content. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the digital content is streaming video content, the digital video content stored by the server software for a delay period sufficient to enable correctional facility staff to monitor and interrupt the stream if non-authorized content is streamed. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the inmate device software is further configured to:
 display information pertaining to commissary items available for sale from the at least one server;   enable an inmate to select and request items from the obtained information, using the inmate device.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the inmate device software is further configured to:
 obtain visual information pertaining to digital content available for downloading into the inmate device;   enable an inmate to view, select and request digital content for downloading;   connect to the at least one server to obtain the digital content.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the inmate device software is further configured to allocate credits assigned to the inmate to pay a cost of obtaining the digital content. 
     
     
         20 . A method for managing an exchange of digital content between inmates in a correctional facility and non-inmates, comprising:
 using at least one computer server having a processor and connected to software stored on non-transitory media, the server software configure to—
 obtain digital video content from inmates or non-inmates, 
 delay distribution of at least a portion of the digital video content until a staffperson of the correctional facility approves transmission of the at least a portion of digital video content to an intended recipient, and 
 distribute the digital video content to the intended recipient if approved; and 
   providing to at least one inmate a device having a processor, a digital display, and controls, the inmate device including software stored on non-transitory media, the device software configured to—
 read stored assignment data pertaining to an inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software, 
 connect to the at least one computer server and transmit information pertaining to the inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device executing the device software, 
 obtain the distributed digital video content distributed by the server software and intended for the particular inmate authorized to use the particular inmate device connected to the at least one computer server, and 
 present the video digital content.