Method of providing a temporary telephone number
First Claim
1. A method of providing a temporary telephone number for a telephone having a directory number, the method comprising the steps of:
- assigning a temporary telephone number to the telephone, the temporary telephone number being different than the directory number;
receiving a call request for the temporary telephone number; and
routing the call request to the telephone based upon receipt of the temporary telephone number.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a method of providing a temporary telephone number for a telephone having a directory number. Upon receiving a call request including a called number, the communication system determines if the called number is a temporary telephone number. If the called number is a temporary telephone number, the communication system determines the directory number of a phone associated with the called number. The communication system then routes the call to the phone, preferably by using the directory number of the called phone. When finished using the temporary telephone number, the communication system returns the temporary phone number to a pool to be used again by a different user as a temporary telephone number.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of providing a temporary telephone number for a telephone having a directory number, the method comprising the steps of:
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assigning a temporary telephone number to the telephone, the temporary telephone number being different than the directory number;
receiving a call request for the temporary telephone number; and
routing the call request to the telephone based upon receipt of the temporary telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of assigning alternate telephone numbers to a telephone having a directory number, the method comprising:
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assigning a temporary telephone number to a first telephone having a first directory number, the temporary telephone number being different than the first directory number;
deassigning the temporary telephone number from the first telephone; and
assigning the temporary telephone number to a second telephone having a second directory number, the second telephone being different than the first telephone and the second directory number being different than the temporary telephone number. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of routing a call to a telephone comprising:
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receiving a call request, the call request including a called number;
if the called number is one of a predetermined group of telephone numbers, determining the directory number of a phone associated with the called number; and
routing the call to the phone. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification