System and method for controlling free phone calls through an institutional phone system

摘要

A method of controlling free phone calls places from within a secured premises through an institutional phone system generally includes assigning a unique access identifier to an individual caller upon entry into the secured premises; receiving a destination number front the individual caller within the secured premises, the destination number being associated with a telephone located outside the secured premises; determining if the destination number is a per se free number, and, if the destination number is not determined to be a per se free number: receiving the unique access identifier from the individual caller; validating the unique access identifier; and, if the unique access identifier is valid, processing a telephone call to the destination number.

主权项

1. A phone system for managing telephone calls placed by a pre-processed caller, comprising:
a temporary access code database that stores a temporary access code, the temporary access code being a biometric obtained from the caller using a biometric sensor, the temporary access code being associated with an active flag that indicates whether the temporary access code is active or inactive; and one or more processors and/or circuits configured to:
process a telephone call initiated by the pre-processed caller;prompt the pre-processed caller to enter an access code;compare the entered access code to the temporary access code;allow the call when the entered access code matches the temporary access code and the active flag indicates that the temporary access code is active;set the active flag to be inactive after a predetermined time has elapsed since the active flag was set to be active; andprocess the caller to convert the caller from a temporary user to a long-term user, the process including:
establishing a long-term access code for the caller, the long-term access code being the biometric obtained from the caller using the biometric sensor;determining that the long-term access code matches the temporary access code;based on the determining, associating the telephone call initiated by the pre-processed caller with the long-term access code; andsetting the active flag to be inactive.