Dialing using indirect addressing methods

• US 20030144013A1
• Filed: 01/25/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rimoni, Yoram, Benchetrit, Uri, Bar-David, Ayal
• Granted Patent: US 6,813,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/461
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27 Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/44 Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13222 PBX circuits in public exchange, centrex
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/76 Translation from the called subscriber's number to the outgoing or incoming control information

Abstract

A method for dialing a telephone number indirectly, including obtaining an alphanumeric identifier that is assigned to a telephone subscriber and associating the identifier with a destination telephone number of the telephone subscriber to form a mapping therebetween. The method further includes storing the mapping in a lookup table, dialing the identifier using an originating telephone, using the identifier as a pointer to the lookup table so as to recover the destination telephone number from the stored mapping, and establishing a connection between the originating telephone and a destination telephone via the destination telephone number.

Claims

1. A method for dialing a telephone number indirectly, comprising:

obtaining an alphanumeric identifier that is assigned to a telephone subscriber;

associating the identifier with a destination telephone number of the telephone subscriber to form a mapping therebetween;

storing the mapping in a lookup table;

dialing the identifier using an originating telephone;

using the identifier as a pointer to the lookup table so as to recover the destination telephone number from the stored mapping; and

establishing a connection between the originating telephone and a destination telephone via the destination telephone number.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the originating telephone and the destination telephone each comprise a communication device chosen from a group of devices comprising a mobile telephone, a landline telephone, and a facsimile machine.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the destination telephone number comprises a first string formatted in an industry-standard format, and wherein the identifier comprises a second string formatted differently from the industry-standard format.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises an identifier-prefix and an identifier-string, wherein the identifier-prefix classifies a type of the identifier-string, and wherein the identifier-string is assigned by an entity associated with the type and independent of the telephone subscriber.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the entity comprises an official body authorized to assign the identifier-string.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the entity comprises a credit card company, and wherein the identifier-string comprises a credit card number.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises an identifier-prefix which acts as a notification that the identifier is not an industry-standard telephone number and that the method is to be invoked.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the originating telephone is operative in a first communication network, and wherein the destination telephone is operative in a second communication network.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the alphanumeric identifier comprises a string which acts as an identification of the telephone subscriber.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the alphanumeric identifier comprises a string which acts as an identification of an object associated with the telephone subscriber.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises a car license number, and wherein dialing the identifier comprises forming an image of a car license plate and recovering the car license number from the image.

12. Apparatus for dialing a telephone number indirectly, comprising:

a memory wherein is stored a lookup table comprising a mapping associating an alphanumeric identifier that is assigned to a telephone subscriber with a destination telephone number; and

a communication server which is adapted to receive the identifier as a dialed input from an originating telephone, to access the lookup table responsive thereto, to recover the destination telephone number by using the identifier as a pointer to the lookup table, and to provide the destination telephone number to a communication network so as to enable the network to establish a connection between the originating telephone and a destination telephone via the destination telephone number.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the originating telephone and the destination telephone each comprise a communication device chosen from a group of devices comprising a mobile telephone, a landline telephone, and a facsimile machine.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the destination telephone number comprises a first numeric string formatted in an industry-standard format, and wherein the identifier comprises a second numeric string formatted differently from the industry-standard format.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the identifier comprises an identifier-prefix and an identifier-string, wherein the identifier-prefix classifies a type of the identifier-string, and wherein the identifier-string is assigned by an entity associated with the type and independent of the telephone subscriber.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the entity comprises an official body authorized to assign the identifier-string.

17. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the entity comprises a credit card company, and wherein the identifier-string comprises a credit card number.

18. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the identifier comprises an identifier-prefix which acts as a notification that the identifier is not an industry-standard telephone number and that the method is to be invoked.

19. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the communication network comprises a first communication network wherein the originating telephone is operative, and wherein the destination telephone is operative in a second communication network coupled to the first communication network.

20. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the identifier comprises a numerical string which acts as an identification of the telephone subscriber.

21. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the identifier comprises a numerical string which acts as an identification of an object associated with the telephone subscriber.

22. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the identifier comprises a car license number, and comprising an imaging system which is adapted to form an image of a car license plate, to recover the car license number from the image, and to convey the car license number to the communication server.

23. A method for dialing a telephone number indirectly, comprising:

obtaining an alphanumeric identifier that is assigned to a first and a second telephone subscriber;

associating the identifier with a first destination telephone number of the first telephone subscriber to form a first mapping therebetween;

associating the identifier with a second destination telephone number of the second telephone subscriber to form a second mapping therebetween;

storing the first and the second mapping in a lookup table;

dialing the identifier using an originating telephone;

using the identifier as a pointer to the lookup table so as to recover the first and the second destination telephone numbers from the stored mappings;

choosing one of the first and second destination telephone numbers as a desired destination telephone number; and

establishing a connection between the originating telephone and a desired destination telephone via the desired destination telephone number.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein choosing one of the first and second destination telephone numbers comprises requesting a caller dialing the identifier to choose between the telephone numbers.

25. Apparatus for dialing a telephone number indirectly, comprising:

a memory wherein is stored a lookup table comprising a first mapping associating an alphanumeric identifier that is assigned to a first telephone subscriber with a first destination telephone number and a second mapping associating the alphanumeric identifier that is assigned to a second telephone subscriber with a second destination telephone number; and

a communication server which is adapted to receive the identifier as a dialed input from an originating telephone, to access the lookup table responsive thereto, to recover the first and the second destination telephone numbers by using the identifier as a pointer to the lookup table, to request a caller dialing the identifier to choose a desired destination telephone number from the first and the second destination telephone numbers, and, responsive to the choice, to provide the desired destination telephone number to a communication network so as to enable the network to establish a connection between the originating telephone and a destination telephone via the desired destination telephone number.