111111
`
`1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
`US009007420Bl
`
`c12) United States Patent
`Passe
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 9,007,420 Bl
`Apr. 14, 2015
`
`(54) VERIFYING PRESENCE OF AUTHORIZED
`PERSONS DURING AN ELECTRONIC
`VISITATION
`
`(71) Applicant: Securus Technologies, Inc., Dallas, TX
`(US)
`
`(72)
`
`Inventor: Scott Passe, Forney, TX (US)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: Securus Technologies, Inc., Dallas, TX
`(US)
`
`( *)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`USPC ............. 348/14.01, 14.08, 14.09; 379/142.05
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2006/0064324 A1 *
`2006/0087555 A1 *
`2008/0000966 A1 *
`2008/0201158 A1 *
`2012/0019620 A1 *
`2012/0281058 A1 *
`2013/0194377 A1 *
`* cited by examiner
`
`3/2006
`4/2006
`1/2008
`8/2008
`112012
`1112012
`8/2013
`
`Rosenfeld eta!. ................ 705/2
`Boyd eta!. ................. 348/14.09
`Keiser ........................... 235/382
`Johnson et al .................... 705/1
`Lee et a!.
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 8/46
`Laney eta!. ............... 348/14.03
`Humphries ................ 348/14.08
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 14/152,831
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`Jan.10,2014
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`H04N 7114
`H04M 1156
`H04M 3142
`G06K 9100
`(52) U.S. Cl.
`CPC ....... H04M 3142059 (2013.01); G06K 9100221
`(2013.01)
`
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`(2006.01)
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`CPC ......... H04N 7/15; H04N 7/147; H04N 7/148;
`H04N7/14; H04N7/157; H04N7/141;
`H04N7/142
`
`Primary Examiner- Quae D Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm- Fogarty, L.L.C.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An embodiment of an apparatus may include an image cap(cid:173)
`ture device configured to capture an image of a user in
`response to a request to initiate an electronic visitation ses(cid:173)
`sion. The apparatus may also include a processing device
`coupled to the image capture device and configured to per(cid:173)
`form a feature detection process on the image to verifY that an
`actual face was present in the image, and connect the elec(cid:173)
`tronic visitation session in response to a determination that
`the actual face was present in the image.
`
`21 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`103A
`
`1038
`
`103N
`
`CONTROLLED-
`ENVIRONMENT
`FACILITY
`COMMUNICATION
`PROCESSING
`SYSTEM
`
`~/ 101
`L 115 j
`
`116
`
`104
`
`AMS
`
`VISITATION
`SYSTEM
`
`112
`
`109
`
`GTL 1001
`IPR of U.S. Patent 9,007,420
`
`0001
`
`

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`N = = """"'
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`CONTROLLED-
`
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`
`0002
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 9,007,420 Bl
`
`103
`~
`
`201
`
`206
`
`200
`
`204
`
`203
`
`FIG. 2
`
`0003
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`~ f-+ CAPTURE
`
`IMAGE
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`0 ....
`~ ...
`'e :-: ....
`>
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`N
`
`Ul
`
`3JO
`
`330
`
`390
`
`380
`
`370
`
`360
`
`DEVICE(S)
`MOBILE
`
`DISPLAY(S)
`
`KEYBOARD
`
`DEVICE
`CONTROL
`CURSOR
`
`CONNECTION
`
`NETWORK
`WIRELESS
`
`WIRED AND/OR
`
`FIG. 3
`
`INPUT/OUTPUT DEVICE(S)
`
`INTERFACE
`NETWORK
`
`STORAGE
`
`DATA
`
`INSTRUCTIONS
`
`PROGRAM
`
`3)0
`
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`MEMORY
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`3\5
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`COMPUTER SYSTEM
`
`300
`
`0004
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`US 9,007,420 Bl
`
`401
`
`402
`
`403
`
`404
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST TO INITIATE
`ELECTRONIC VISITATION
`
`CAPTURE IMAGE OF USER
`IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST
`
`PERFORM 3D FEATURE
`DETECTION PROCESS
`ON IMAGE TO VERIFY
`ACTUAL FACE PRESENT
`
`CONNECT ELECTRONIC
`VISITATION SESSION IN
`RESPONSE TO DETERMINATION
`ACTUAL FACE PRESENT
`
`FIG. 4
`
`501
`
`502
`
`503
`
`504
`
`506
`
`507
`
`509
`
`510
`
`RECEIVE REQUEST TO INITIATE
`ELECTRONIC VISITATION SESSION
`
`PROMPT USER TO PRESENT
`FACE FOR IMAGE CAPTURE
`
`CAPTURE IMAGE OF USER
`IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST
`
`PERFORM FACIAL RECOGNITION
`PROCESS ON IMAGE
`
`CONNECT ELECTRONIC
`VISITATION SESSION
`
`CAPTURE SECOND
`IMAGE OF USER
`
`DISCONNECT ELECTRONIC
`VISITATION SYSTEM
`
`STORE CAPTURED IMAGES
`
`FIG. 5
`
`0005
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 14, 2015
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 9,007,420 Bl
`
`FIG. 6
`
`603
`_\,___-
`
`700
`
`FIG. 7
`
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`702
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`

`
`US 9,007,420 Bl
`
`1
`VERIFYING PRESENCE OF AUTHORIZED
`PERSONS DURING AN ELECTRONIC
`VISITATION
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD
`
`Embodiments of the invention are directed, in general, to
`interactive computing devices and, more specifically, to
`methods and systems for verifying presence of authorized
`persons during an electronic visitation.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`2
`readable storage medium may have program instructions
`stored thereon that, upon execution by one or more computer
`systems, cause the one or more computer systems to execute
`one or more operations disclosed herein. In yet other various
`embodiments, a system may include at least one processor
`and memory coupled to the at least one processor, the
`memory configured to store program instructions executable
`by the at least one processor to cause the system to execute
`one or more operations disclosed herein.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Correctional facilities provide various options for visita(cid:173)
`tion with inmates. Options include in-person visitation,
`room-to-room visitation through a divider, telephone visita(cid:173)
`tion, and video visitation. Inmates of controlled-environment
`facilities are typically restricted to receiving visitation from
`approved persons.
`When an individual visits an inmate in person, the indi(cid:173)
`vidual's identity may be determined by providing identifica(cid:173)
`tion documents to staff of the controlled-environment facility
`for verification. The identification documents may include a
`picture of the individual. The staff member may cross-refer(cid:173)
`ence the individual's name with a list of individuals on the
`inmate's approved visitor list.
`Identification of visitors is more difficult with telephone or
`video visitation. The individual may provide a personal iden(cid:173)
`tification number, phrase, or pass code, but it is often difficult
`to ascertain whether the person providing the identifying
`information is in fact the authorized visitor without visual
`confirmation of the person's identity. For example, an autho(cid:173)
`rized visitor may pass identification information to unautho(cid:173)
`rized individuals so that they may pose as an authorized
`visitor for the electronic visitation.
`
`SUMMARY
`
`Having thus described the invention in general terms, ref(cid:173)
`erence will now be made to the accompanying drawings,
`15 which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a system for verifYing presence of authorized
`persons during an electronic visitation.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`20 embodiment of an apparatus for verifYing presence of autho(cid:173)
`rized persons during an electronic visitation.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a processing device configurable as an appa(cid:173)
`ratus for verifying presence of authorized persons during
`25 video visitation.
`FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a method for verifying presence of authorized
`persons during an electronic visitation.
`FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart diagram illustrating
`30 another embodiment of a method for verifYing presence of
`authorized persons during an electronic visitation.
`FIG. 6 is a mockup diagram illustrating one embodiment of
`an apparatus for verifYing presence of authorized persons
`during an electronic visitation during use.
`FIG. 7 is a mockup diagram illustrating one embodiment of
`an image frame captured by an image capture device.
`
`35
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Embodiments of the invention are directed to methods,
`apparatuses, and systems for verifYing presence of authorized 40
`persons during an electronic visitation. In one embodiment, a
`method may include receiving a request to initiate an elec(cid:173)
`tronic visitation session. The method may also include cap(cid:173)
`turing an image, with an image capture device, of a user in
`response to the request. Additionally, the method may include 45
`performing a feature detection process, with a processor, on
`the image to verifY that an actual face was present in the
`image. Also, the method may include connecting the elec(cid:173)
`tronic visitation session in response to a determination that
`the actual face was present in the image.
`An embodiment of an apparatus may include an image
`capture device configured to capture an image of a user in
`response to a request to initiate an electronic visitation ses(cid:173)
`sion. The apparatus may also include a processing device
`coupled to the image capture device and configured to per- 55
`form a feature detection process on the image to verifY that an
`actual face was present in the image, and connect the elec(cid:173)
`tronic visitation session in response to a determination that
`the actual face was present in the image.
`A tangible computer program product comprising com- 60
`puter readable instructions that, when executed by a process(cid:173)
`ing device, cause the processing device to perform operations
`for verifying presence of authorized persons during an elec(cid:173)
`tronic visitation is also described.
`In various embodiments, one or more of the techniques
`described herein may be performed by one or more computer
`systems. In other various embodiments, a tangible computer-
`
`The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter
`with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention
`may, however, be embodied in many different forms and
`should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set
`forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that
`this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully
`convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
`One skilled in the art may be able to use the various embodi(cid:173)
`ments of the invention.
`This specification discloses methods and systems for veri-
`50 :tying presence of authorized persons during an electronic
`visitation. The various techniques described herein may find
`applicability in a wide variety of controlled-environment
`facilities (as well as outside of controlled-environment facili-
`ties). Examples of controlled-environment facilities may
`include correctional institutions or facilities (e.g., municipal
`jails, county jails, state prisons, federal prisons, military
`stockades, juvenile facilities, detention camps, home incar(cid:173)
`ceration environments, etc.), healthcare facilities (e.g., hos(cid:173)
`pitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, rehabilitation
`clinics, such as drug and alcohol rehabilitation facilities, etc.),
`restricted living quarters (e.g., hotels, resorts, camps, dormi-
`tories, barracks, etc.), and the like.
`For convenience of explanation, various examples dis(cid:173)
`cussed herein are presented in the context of correctional
`65 facilities. For instance, in some of the embodiments discussed
`below, a controlled-environment facility may be referred to as
`a jail or prison, and its residents may be referred to as resi-
`
`0007
`
`

`
`US 9,007,420 Bl
`
`3
`dents, arrestees, detainees, or inmates. It should be under(cid:173)
`stood, however, that the systems and methods described
`herein may be similarly applicable to other types of con(cid:173)
`trolled-environment facilities and their respective residents
`(e.g., a hospital and its patients). Other embodiments may be
`suitable for use in other public places, for example at ATM
`devices or at airport check-in kiosks.
`Turning now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of an illustrative
`environment where verifYing presence of authorized persons
`during an electronic visitation may be employed is depicted
`according to some embodiments. As shown, communication
`processing system 101 may provide telephone services, vid(cid:173)
`eoconferencing, online chat, and other communication ser(cid:173)
`vices to a controlled-environment facility. For example, in
`some cases, communication system 101 may be co-located
`with a controlled-environment facility. Alternatively, com(cid:173)
`munication system 101 may be centrally or remotely located
`with respect to one or more controlled-environment facilities
`and/or may provide communication services to multiple con(cid:173)
`trolled-environment facilities. More generally, however, it
`should be noted that communication system 101 may assume
`a variety of forms, and may be configured to serve a variety of
`facilities and/or users, whether within or outside of a con(cid:173)
`trolled-environment facility.
`In the context of a correctional facility, for instance,
`inmates may use telephones 102 to access certain communi(cid:173)
`cation services. In some facilities, inmates may also use a
`personal computer wireless device 104 to access such ser(cid:173)
`vices. For example, an inmate may initiate telephone services
`by lifting the receiver on telephone 102, at which time the
`inmate may be prompted to provide a personal identification
`number (PIN), other identifYing information or biometrics.
`An interactive voice response (IVR) unit (not shown) may
`generate and play prompt or other messages to inmates on
`devices 102-104.
`Under the control of communication processing system
`101, devices 102, 103 and 104 may be capable of connecting
`to a non-resident's (i.e., a person not committed to a con(cid:173)
`trolled-environment facility) device 105 or telephone 106
`across a publicly switched telephone network (PSTN) 107.
`For example, device 105 may be a mobile phone, whereas
`telephone 106 may be located at a non-resident's home,
`inmate visitation center, etc. Switch 108 in communication
`processing system 101 may be used to connect calls across
`PSTN 107. Additionally or alternatively, the non-resident
`may be at telephone 109 or device 112, which is on Voice(cid:173)
`over-IP (VoiP), or packet data network 110, such as, for
`example the Internet. Router 111 of communication system
`101 is used to route data packets associated with a call con(cid:173)
`nection to destination telephone 109 or device 112.
`Smart terminals 103a-n (each collectively referred to as
`"smart terminal103") may have video conferencing capabili(cid:173)
`ties to enable inmates to participate in video visitation ses(cid:173)
`sions with non-residents of the correctional facility via video
`call, secure online chat, etc. In one embodiment, smart termi(cid:173)
`nals 103 may include touch-screen devices. In some embodi(cid:173)
`ments, smart terminals 103 may include an image capture
`device, such as a webcam. For example, a non-resident party
`may have a personal or laptop computer 113 with camera 114
`(or a cell phone, tablet computer, etc.). Additionally or alter(cid:173)
`natively, device 112 may have an integrated camera and
`touch-screen display (e.g., a smart phone, tablet, etc.). A
`network connection between the parties may be established
`and supported by an organization or commercial service that
`provides computer services and software for use in telecom(cid:173)
`munications and/or VOIP, such as SKYPE®. Additionally or
`alternatively, the correctional facility and/or the destination
`
`4
`may use videoconferencing equipment compatible with ITU
`H.323, H.320, H.264, and/or V.SO, or other suitable standards.
`Generally speaking, each smart terminal! 03 may be disposed
`in a visitation room, in a pod, kiosk, etc.
`In addition to providing certain visitation and communica(cid:173)
`tion operations, communication processing system 101 may
`attempt to ensure that an inmate's calls, video conferences,
`online chats, etc. are performed only with non-residents
`whose identities, devices, email addresses, phone numbers,
`10 etc. are listed in that inmate's Pre-Approved Contact (PAC)
`list. Each inmate's PAC list may be stored, for example, in
`database 115 maintained by Administration and Management
`System (AMS) 116. In addition to PAC list(s),AMS 116 may
`also store inmate or resident profile data (RPD), as well as
`15 inmate financial data, such as commissary accounts.
`As an example, in the context of a correctional facility,
`database 115 may include information such as balances for
`inmate trust and calling accounts; trial schedule; conviction
`data; criminal record; sentencing data, such as time served,
`20 time remaining to be served, and release date; cell and cell(cid:173)
`mate assignments; inmate restrictions and warnings; com(cid:173)
`missary order history; telephone call history; call recordings;
`known or suspected gang or criminal affiliations; known or
`suspected affiliates, accomplices, or gang members; and any
`25 other information that may be relevant or useful to correc(cid:173)
`tional facility staff to house and maintain inmates.
`Visitation system 130 may be configured to provide, sched(cid:173)
`ule, and manage visitation services to residents and non(cid:173)
`residents of a controlled-environment facility. To that end,
`30 visitation system 130 may be coupled to PSTN 107 and/or
`network 110 in a manner similar to communication process(cid:173)
`ing system 101 by also including one or more gateways,
`switches and/or routers (not shown). Accordingly, visitation
`system 130 may be configured to communicate with one or
`35 more residents of the controlled-environment facility via
`devices 102-104 and with one or more non-residents via
`devices 105, 106, 109, 112, and/or 113. Although visitation
`system 130 is shown in FIG. 1 as being remotely located with
`respect to communication processing system 101 and the
`40 controlled-environment facility, in other cases visitation sys(cid:173)
`tem 130 may be co-located with the facility and/or integrated
`within system 101.
`In some implementations, communication system 101 may
`be configured to perform video visitation monitoring opera-
`45 tions configured to monitor and or record video visitations
`(e.g., as electronic video files). In scenarios where commu(cid:173)
`nication system 101 is located within the controlled-environ(cid:173)
`ment facility, it may have direct access to AMS 116. In other
`embodiments, however, communication system 101 may be
`50 located remotely with respect to the controlled-environment
`facility, and access to AMS 116 may be obtained via a com(cid:173)
`puter network such as, for example, network 110.
`In some embodiments, smart terminals 103 may be imple(cid:173)
`mented as a computer-based system. For example, each of
`55 smart terminals 103 may include a display, camera, and hand(cid:173)
`set. The display may be any suitable electronic display such
`as, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a touch(cid:173)
`screen display (e.g., resistive, capacitive, etc.), or the like,
`whereas the camera may be a suitable imaging device such as,
`60 for instance, a video camera or webcam equipped with
`Charge-Coupled Devices (CCDs), Complementary Metal(cid:173)
`Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel sensors, etc. A
`handset may be similar to a traditional telephone handset
`including an earpiece portion (with a loudspeaker), a handle
`65 portion, and a mouthpiece portion (with a microphone).
`During a video visitation session, smart terminals 103 may
`be configured to capture a video image of an inmate to be
`
`0008
`
`

`
`US 9,007,420 Bl
`
`5
`transmitted to a non-resident using the camera, and to display
`a video image of the non-resident to the inmate using the
`display. Smart terminals 103 may also be configured to cap(cid:173)
`ture an audio signal from the inmate to be transmitted to a
`non-resident using the mouthpiece portion of the handset, and
`to provide an audio signal from the non-resident to the inmate
`using the earpiece portion of the handset. Additionally or
`alternatively, audio received from the non-resident may be
`reproduced via a loudspeaker, and audio provided by the
`inmate may be captured via a microphone.
`In addition to video visitation, smart terminals 103 may
`also be used by the inmate to access an inmate portal which
`allows access to communication processing system 101. The
`access available to the inmate through the inmate portal may
`be limited or restricted according to the inmate's permissions 15
`on the system 101. In some embodiments, the inmate may be
`able to access his/her personal account information, make
`purchases, check electronic communications such as email,
`and the like.
`In some cases, smart terminals 103 may assume the form of
`any computer, tablet computer, smart phone, etc., or any other
`consumer device or appliance with videoconferencing capa(cid:173)
`bilities.
`FIG. 2 is a diagram of a video visitation device 103. In
`some embodiments, device 103 may be implemented as a
`computer-based system such as described in connection with
`FIG. 3. As illustrated, device 103 includes display 204, cam(cid:173)
`era 205, and handset 201 coupled to device 103 via wire 209.
`Display 204 may be any suitable electronic display such as,
`for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), a touchscreen
`display (e.g., resistive, capacitive, etc.), or the like, whereas
`camera 205 may be any suitable imaging device such as, for
`instance, a video camera or webcam equipped with Charge(cid:173)
`Coupled Devices (CCDs), Complementary Metal-Oxide(cid:173)
`Semiconductor (CMOS) active pixel sensors, etc. Handset
`201 may be similar to a traditional telephone handset includ(cid:173)
`ing an earpiece portion (with a speaker), a handle portion, and
`a mouthpiece portion (with a microphone).
`During a video visitation session, video visitation device
`103 may be configured to capture a video image of an inmate 40
`to be transmitted to a non-resident using camera 205, and to
`display a video image of the non-resident to the inmate using
`display 204. Video visitation device 103 may also be config(cid:173)
`ured to capture an audio signal from the inmate to be trans(cid:173)
`mitted to the non-resident using the mouthpiece portion of 45
`handset 201, and to provide an audio signal from the non(cid:173)
`resident to the inmate using the earpiece portion of handset
`201. Additionally or alternatively, audio received from the
`non-resident may be reproduced via loudspeaker 202, and
`audio provided by the inmate may be captured via micro- 50
`phone 203. In some embodiments, handset holder or holster
`208 may be configured to allow a user to securely rest handset
`201 against device 103 (e.g., in an "off' position) when device
`103 is not in use. Furthermore, handset holder 208 may
`include a mechanical or electromechanical switch or sensor 55
`(not shown) that senses when handset 201 is not resting
`against it (e.g. in its "on" position).
`Video visitation device 103 may also include lighting
`device 206 and lighting sensor 207. In some embodiments,
`lighting device 206 may include one or more incandescent 60
`light sources (e.g., bulbs, lamps, etc.), fluorescent lamps,
`Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), Cold Cathode Fluores(cid:173)
`cent Lamps (CCFL), high-intensity discharge sources, Light(cid:173)
`Emitting Diodes (LEDs ), or the like. Additionally or alterna(cid:173)
`lighting device 206 may include one or more 65
`tively,
`adjustable lighting devices with variable intensity, brightness,
`luminance, color, tone, etc. Lighting or light sensor 207 may
`
`6
`include one or more suitable sensors such as, for example,
`photoresistors, photodiodes, etc. In various implementations,
`camera 205 may serve as light sensor 207, and light sensor
`207 may be absent.
`Furthermore, it should be noted that, outside of correc(cid:173)
`tional facilities, video visitation device 103 may assume the
`form of any computer, tablet computer, smart phone, etc., or
`any other consumer device or appliance with videoconferenc(cid:173)
`ing capabilities. For example, in the case where video visita-
`10 tion device 103 is a camera-enabled television (or smart
`phone, etc.) that does not include a dedicated lightning appa(cid:173)
`ratus, the brightness of display 204 may be adjusted so that
`display 204 may itself act as lighting device 206 (e.g., the
`brightness of display 204 may be increased to also increase
`the illumination of the person(s) "watching" the teleconfer(cid:173)
`ence through the television, for example, upon detection that
`a video connection has been established).
`In the context of correctional facilities, video visitation
`device 103 may include one or more tampering/impact resis-
`20 tant or hardened elements configured to protect them from
`vandalism or otherwise destructive acts. For example, one or
`more of devices 202-207 may be protected by a transparent
`plastic or thermoplastic (e.g., Plexiglas, etc.) material.
`In one embodiment, the video visitation device 103 may
`25 include a keypad 210 or other user input device to allow a user
`to enter information. For example, the user may dial a tele(cid:173)
`phone number associated with a recipient of a video visitation
`call, enter an account number for billing purposes, or enter a
`Personal Identification Number (PIN) or inmate number for
`30 authentication and/or identification purposes.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating one
`embodiment of a processing device configurable for use
`according to the present embodiments. In various embodi(cid:173)
`ments, system 300 may be a server, a workstation, a kiosk, a
`35 smart terminal, a desktop computer, a laptop, a tablet com(cid:173)
`puter, a mobile device, a smart phone, or the like. In some
`cases, system 300 may be used to implement visitation sys(cid:173)
`tem 130.
`As illustrated, computer system 300 includes one or more
`processors 310A-N coupled to a system memory 320 via an
`input/output (I/0) interface 330. Computer system 300 fur(cid:173)
`ther includes a network interface 340 coupled to I/0 interface
`330, and one or more input/output devices 350, such as cursor
`control device 360, keyboard 370, display(s) 380, or mobile
`device(s) 390. In an embodiment, I/0 interface 330 may
`include a touch-sensitive screen. Other devices may include,
`for example, image capture devices 395, surveillance cam(cid:173)
`eras, microphones, antennas/wireless transducers, phone
`detection modules, etc. In some embodiments, each of visi(cid:173)
`tation system 130, AMS 116, communication processing sys(cid:173)
`tem 101, devices 102-104, and/or devices 105, 106,109, 112,
`and 113 may be implemented using a single instance of com(cid:173)
`puter system 300, while in other embodiments multiple such
`systems, or multiple nodes making up computer system 300,
`may be configured to host different portions of a given elec(cid:173)
`tronic device or system.
`In various embodiments, computer system 300 may be a
`single-processor system including one processor 310, or a
`multi -processor system including two or more processors 310
`(e.g., two, four, eight, or another suitable number). Processors
`310 may be any processor capable of executing program
`instructions. For example, in various embodiments, proces(cid:173)
`sors 310 may be general-purpose or embedded processors
`implementing any of a variety of instruction set architectures
`(ISAs), such as the x86, PowerPC®, ARM®, SPARC®, or
`MIPS® ISAs, or any other suitable ISA. In multi-processor
`systems, each of processors 310 may commonly, but not
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`0009
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`US 9,007,420 Bl
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`7
`necessarily, implement the same ISA. Also, in some embodi(cid:173)
`ments, at least one processor 310 may be a graphics process(cid:173)
`ing unit (GPU) or other dedicated graphics-rendering device.
`System memory 320 may be configured to store program
`instructions and/or data accessible by processor 310. In vari(cid:173)
`ous embodiments, system memory 320 may be implemented
`using any suitable memory technology, such as static random
`access memory (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM
`(SDRAM), nonvolatile/Flash-type memory, or any other type
`of memory. As illustrated, program instructions and data 10
`implementing certain operations such as, 7 for example, those
`described below in connection with FIGS. 4-7, may be stored
`within system memory 320 as program instructions 325 and
`data storage 335, respectively. In other embodiments, pro(cid:173)
`gram instructions and/or data may be received, sent or stored 15
`upon different types of computer-accessible media or on
`similar media separate from system memory 3 20 or computer
`system 300.
`Generally speaking, a computer-accessible medium may
`include any tangible or non-transitory storage media or 20
`memory media such as electronic, magnetic, or optical
`media-e.g., disk or CD/DVD-ROM coupled to computer
`system 300 via I/0 interface 330. The terms "tangible" and
`"non-transitory," as used herein, are intended to describe a
`computer-readable storage medium (or "memory") exclud- 25
`ing propagating electromagnetic signals, but are not intended
`to otherwise limit the type of physical computer-readable
`storage device that is encompassed by the phrase computer(cid:173)
`readable medium or memory. For instance, the terms "non(cid:173)
`transitory
`computer-readable medium" or
`"tangible 30
`memory" are intended to encompass types of storage devices
`that do not necessarily store information permanently, includ(cid:173)
`ing for example, random access memory (RAM). Program
`instructions and data stored on a tangible computer-acces(cid:173)
`sible storage medium in non-transitory form may further be 35
`transmitted by transmission media or signals such as electri(cid:173)
`cal, electromagnetic, or digital signals, which may be con(cid:173)
`veyed via a commnnication medium such as a network and/or
`a wireless link.
`In an embodiment, I/0 interface 330 may be configured to 40
`coordinate I/0 traffic between processor 310, system memory
`320, and any peripheral devices in the device, including net(cid:173)
`work interface 340 or other peripheral interfaces, such as
`input/output devices 350. In some embodiments, I/0 inter(cid:173)
`face 330 may perform any necessary protocol, timing or other 45
`data transformations to convert data signals from one com(cid:173)
`ponent (e.g., system memory 320) into a format suitable for
`use by another component (e.g., processor 310). In some
`embodiments, I/0 interface 330 may include support for
`devices attached through various types of peripheral buses, 50
`such as a variant of the Peripheral Component Interconnect
`(PCI) bus standard or the Universal Serial Bus (USB) stan(cid:173)
`dard, for example. In some embodiments, the function ofl/0
`interface 330 may be split into two or more separate compo(cid:173)
`nents, such as a north bridge and a south bridge, for example. 55
`In addition, in some embodiments some or all of the func(cid:173)
`tionality of I/0 interface 330, such as an interface to system
`memory 320, may be incorporated directly into processor
`310.
`Network interface 340 may be configured to allow data to
`be exchanged between computer system 300 and other
`devices attached to a network, such as other computer sys(cid:173)
`tems, or between nodes of computer system 300. In various
`embodiments, network interface 340 may support communi(cid:173)
`cation via wired or wireless general data networks, such as
`any suitable type of Ethernet network, for example; via tele(cid:173)
`commnnications/telephony networks such as analog voice
`
`8
`networks or digital fiber commnnications networks; via stor(cid:173)
`age area networks such as Fibre-Charmel SANs, or via any
`other suitable type of network and/or protocol.
`Input/output devices 350 may, in some embodiments,
`include one or more display terminals, keyboards, keypads,
`touchpads, touch screens, scarming devices, voice or optical
`recognition devices, mobile devices, or any other devices
`suitable for entering or retrieving data by one or more com-
`puter system 300. Multiple input/output devices 350 may be
`present in computer