Advertisement-Funded Calling System with Audio and Video Messages

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for providing advertisements to the parties of a communication, such as a telephone call or a video conference. A calling party agrees to view or listen to an advertisement in exchange for communications services, such as a telephone call. A called party may also agree to view or listen to an advertisement in order to receive a call. After an advertisement is broadcast to the calling and/or calling parties, a call connection is completed between the parties. Alternatively, audio and/or video advertisements may be broadcast during a call connection.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for providing a visitation session to a resident of a controlled-environment facility, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for the visitation session between the resident and a non-resident, wherein the requested visitation session is associated with a fee;   determining whether funds are provided for the visitation session fee by the resident or the non-resident;   if no funds are provided for the visitation session fee, selecting one or more advertisements that can provide funding for the visitation session for a first length of time;   presenting the one or more advertisements to the resident; and   authorizing the requested visitation session, wherein the visitation session is limited to the first length of time.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more advertisements is selected based on the location of the resident. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the location of the resident is the location of the resident within the controlled-environment facility. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the location comprises a booking area of the controlled-environment facility. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein, based on the location of the resident in the booking area, one or more of the selected advertisements promotes at least one of an attorney and a bail bondsman. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication from the resident authorizing the presenting of additional advertisements;   selecting one or more additional advertisements that can provide funding for the visitation session for a second length of time;   presenting the one or more additional advertisements to the resident; and   authorizing an extension of the visitation session, wherein the extended visitation session is limited to the second length of time.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the location of the resident within the controlled-environment facility is determined based on a communication device being used by the resident for the visitation session. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the communication device is a custodial telephone device or a personal computing device provided by the controlled-environment facility. 
     
     
         9 . A system for providing a visitation session to a resident of a controlled-environment facility, the system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer-readable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to:
 receive a request for the visitation session between the resident and a non-resident, wherein the requested visitation session is associated with a fee; 
 determine whether funds are provided for the visitation session fee by the resident or the non-resident; 
 if no funds are provided for the visitation session fee, select one or more advertisements that can provide funding for the visitation session for a first length of time; 
 present the one or more advertisements to the resident; and 
 authorize the requested visitation session, wherein the visitation session is limited to the first length of time. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the one or more advertisements is selected based on the location of the resident. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the location of the resident is the location of the resident within the controlled-environment facility. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the location comprises a booking area of the controlled-environment facility. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein, based on the location of the resident in the booking area, one or more of the selected advertisements promotes at least one of an attorney and a bail bondsman. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , the memory storing additional computer-readable instructions that, upon execution by the processor, cause the system to:
 receive an indication from the resident authorizing the presenting of additional advertisements;   select one or more additional advertisements that can provide funding for the visitation session for a second length of time;   present the one or more additional advertisements to the resident; and   authorize an extension of the visitation session, wherein the extended visitation session is limited to the second length of time.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the location of the resident within the controlled-environment facility is determined based on a communication device being used by the resident for the visitation session. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the communication device is a custodial telephone device or a personal computing device provided by the controlled-environment facility. 
     
     
         17 . A call processing system configured to provide a visitation session to a resident of a controlled-environment facility, the system comprising:
 a communication engine configured to receive a request for the visitation session between the resident and a non-resident, wherein the requested visitation session is associated with a fee;   a billing engine configured to determine whether funds are provided for the visitation session fee by the resident or the non-resident;   an advertisement selection engine configured to select one or more advertisements that can provide funding for the visitation session for a first length of time, if no funds are provided for the visitation session fee;   the communication engine further configured to present the one or more advertisements to the resident and further configured to authorize the requested visitation session, wherein the visitation session is limited to the first length of time.   
     
     
         18 . The call processing system of  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the one or more advertisements is selected by the advertisement selection engine based on the location of the resident. 
     
     
         19 . The call processing system of  claim 18 , wherein the location of the resident is the location of the resident within the controlled-environment facility. 
     
     
         20 . The call processing system of  claim 19 , wherein the location comprises a booking area of the controlled-environment facility and wherein, based on the location of the resident in the booking area, one or more of the advertisements selected by the advertisement selection engine promotes at least one of an attorney and a bail bondsman.