Method and apparatus for obtaining telephone numbers

• US 20020068550A1
• Filed: 12/05/2000
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Luis Tejada
• Original Assignee: Luis Tejada
• Inventors: Tejada, Luis
• Application Number:
  US09/730,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068550A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

A method and system for selectively providing information concerning wireless phone numbers maintain a database which identifies the wireless phone numbers of a group of persons listed in the database and, for each such wireless phone number, maintain a profile indicating a set of conditions under which the wireless phone number can be provided to third parties. Requests for wireless phone numbers of persons in the group are received from third parties. The wireless phone numbers are provided to the third party if a set of conditions associated with that wireless phone number have been met.

Claims

1. A method for selectively providing information concerning wireless phone numbers, the method comprising:

maintaining a database which identifies the wireless phone numbers of a group of persons listed in the database and for each such wireless phone number maintaining a profile indicating a set of conditions under which the wireless phone number can be provided to third parties;

receiving a request from a third party for the wireless phone number of a person in the group; and

providing the wireless phone number to the third party if the set of conditions associated with that wireless phone number have been met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is a single integrated database.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is formed from a plurality of related databases.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the conditions is that the phone number is published, in which case the wireless phone number will be given to any third party making the request, and at least one other of the conditions is that the phone number is unpublished, in which case the wireless phone number will not be given to any third party making the request.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the sets of conditions is that there is a restricted group of third parties to whom the phone number may be provided.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sets of conditions is that there is a restricted group of third parties to whom the phone number may be provided.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the restricted group is a list of one or more individuals.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the restricted group is a list of one or more individuals.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the restricted group is a list of one or more organizations and only third parties associated with those organizations may be provided with the phone number.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the restricted group is a list of one or more organizations and only third parties associated with those organizations may be provided with the phone number.

11. A system for selectively providing information concerning wireless phone numbers, the system comprising:

a database which identifies the wireless phone numbers of a group of persons listed in the database and for each such wireless phone number maintains a profile indicating a set of conditions under which the wireless phone number can be provided to third parties;

means for examining the profile of each of the wireless phone numbers requested by a third party and providing the wireless phone number to the third party if the set of conditions associated with that wireless phone number have been met.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the database is a single integrated database.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the database is formed of a plurality of related databases.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the conditions is that the phone number is published, indicating that the wireless phone number should be given to any third party making the request, and at least one other of the conditions is that the phone number is unpublished, indicating that the phone number should not be given to any third party making the request.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the conditions is that there is a restricted group of third parties to whom the phone number may be provided.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the conditions is that there is a restricted group of third parties to whom the phone number may be provided.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the restricted group is a list of one or more individuals.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the restricted group is a list of one or more individuals.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the restricted group is a list of one or more organizations and only third parties associated with those organizations may be provided with the phone number.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the restricted group is a list of one or more organizations and only third parties associates with those organizations may be provided with the phone number.

21. The system of claim 11, wherein the examining means is one or more programmed computers.