Method and Apparatus for Providing Virtual Mobile Phone Number

• US 20080081617A1
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wireless Alliance, LLC (Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: KT Freetel Co., Ltd. (KT Corporation)
• Inventors: Han, Ji-woong, Yoo, Yong-kyu
• Granted Patent: US 8,326,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/433
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0421 Anonymous communication, i.e. the party's identifiers are hidden from the other party or parties, e.g. using an anonymizer
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/75 Temporary identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/28 Number portability ; Network address portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/184 Messaging devices, e.g. message centre

Abstract

The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for providing a virtual mobile phone number, and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for requesting routing information, such as an actual phone number from a home location register storing the actual phone number corresponding to a virtual phone number transmitted from an originating terminal and transmitting a short message, a long message or a multimedia message to a terminating terminal corresponding to the actual phone number.

Claims

1. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a value added service server, the value added service server being associated with a mobile communication network including a message service center and a home location register, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a message signal including an actual phone number corresponding to a virtual phone number from the message service center, wherein the message service center receives a message signal transmitted using the virtual phone number from an originating terminal and requests routing information for the virtual phone number to the home location register, the message signal is transmitted from the message service center based on a routing information response signal received from the home location register, the routing information signal including the previously stored actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number;

altering the message signal; and

transmitting the altered message signal to the message service center, wherein the message service center, having received the altered message signal, requests routing information for the actual phone number to the home location register, the home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits routing information for the actual phone number to the message service center, and the message service center, having received the routing information, transmits the message signal to a terminating terminal based on the routing information.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the home location register has actual phone number data previously stored corresponding to virtual phone numbers.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step of altering the message signal is performed by indicating that the message is associated with a virtual phone number service in the message.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of the message service center transmitting status information to the value added service server, and the value added service server, having received the status information, generating accounting information corresponding to the service.

5. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a home location register, the home location register being associated with a mobile communication network including a message service center, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a routing information request for a virtual phone number used in message transmission by an originating terminal from the message service center;

transmitting a routing information response signal including a previously stored actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number to a short message service center in response to the routing information request signal;

receiving a routing information request for the actual phone number from the message service center; and

transmitting a routing information response signal for the actual phone number to the message service center, wherein the message service center, having received the routing information response signal, transmits the message signal to a terminating terminal using this routing information response signal.

6. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a message service center, the message service center being associated with a mobile communication network including a home location register and a value added service server, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a message signal transmitted by an originating terminal using a virtual phone number;

transmitting a routing information request for the virtual phone number to the home location register;

receiving a routing information response signal, including a previously stored actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number, from the home location register;

transmitting the message signal, including the actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number, to the value added service server;

receiving the altered message signal from the value added service server, wherein altered message signal is altered from the message signal received from the message service center by the value added service server;

transmitting a routing information request for the actual phone number to the home location register;

receiving a routing information response signal for the actual phone number from the home location register; and

transmitting the altered message signal to a terminating terminal based on the routing information response signal.

7. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a value added service server, the value added service server being associated with a mobile communication network including an originating mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a terminating mobile switching center, a first short message service center, a second short message service center, a first home location register and a second home location register, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a short message signal including an actual phone number corresponding to a virtual phone number and a message signal from the first short message service center, wherein the originating mobile switching center transmits the short message signal using the virtual phone number to the first short message service center, the first short message service center, having received the short message signal, requests routing information for the virtual phone number to the first home location register, the first home location register transmits a routing information response signal including a previously stored actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number in response to the routing information signal to the first short message service center, and the first short message service center, having received the routing information response signal, transmits the short message signal;

altering the short message signal; and

transmitting the altered short message signal to the second short message service center, wherein the second short message service center, having received the altered short message signal, requests routing information for the actual phone number to the second home location register, the second home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits the routing information for the actual phone number to the second message service center, and the second message service center, having received the routing information, transmits the short message signal to the terminating mobile switching center based on the routing information.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the first home location register has actual phone number data previously stored corresponding to virtual phone numbers.

9. The method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the step of altering the short message signal is performed by indicating that the short message is associated with a virtual phone number service in the short message.

10. The method as set forth in claim 7, further comprising the step of the second message service center transmitting status information to the value added service server, and the value added service server, having received the status information, generating accounting information corresponding to the service.

11. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a value added service server, the value added service server being associated with a mobile communication network including an originating mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a terminating mobile switching center, a short message service center, and a home location register, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a short message signal including an actual phone number corresponding to a virtual phone number and a message signal from the first short message service center, wherein the originating mobile switching center transmits the short message signal using the virtual phone number to the short message service center, the short message service center, having received the short message signal, requests routing information for the virtual phone number to the home location register, the home location register transmits a routing information response signal including a previously stored actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number to the short message service center in response to the routing information signal, and the first short message service center, having received the routing information response signal, transmits the short message signal;

altering the short message signal; and

transmitting the altered short message signal to the short message service center, wherein the message service center, having received the altered short message signal, requests routing information for the actual phone number to the home location register, the home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits the routing information for the actual phone number to the message service center, and the short message service center, having receiving the routing information, transmits the short message signal to the terminating mobile switching center.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the home location register has actual phone number data previously stored corresponding to virtual phone numbers.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein the step of altering the short message signal is performed by indicating that the short message is associated with a virtual phone number service in the short message.

14. The method as set forth in claim 11, further comprising the step of the short message service center transmitting status information to the value added service server, and the value added service server, having received the status information, generating accounting information corresponding to the service.

15. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, the mobile switching center being associated with a mobile communication network including a home location register and a subscriber management system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a voice call for a virtual phone number from an originating terminal;

requesting routing information of the voice call for the virtual phone number to the home location register;

receiving a routing information signal from the home location register, wherein the home location register requests information about the virtual phone number to the subscriber management system, the subscriber management system, having received a request signal, determines whether subscription to a virtual phone number service has been made and whether subscription to an additional voice service has been made for the virtual phone number, the routing information signal includes information indicating this when the subscription to a virtual phone number service has been made and the subscription to an additional voice service has not been made; and

transmitting a message indicating that the voice call can not be made to the originating terminal if the routing information signal includes information indicating that subscription to an additional voice service has not been made.

16. A value added service server for providing a virtual phone number service, the value added service server being associated with a mobile communication network including an originating mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a terminating mobile switching center, a first short message service center, a second short message service center, a first home location register, and a second home location register, the value added service server comprising:

means for receiving a short message signal including an actual phone number corresponding to a virtual phone number from the first short message service center, wherein the originating mobile switching center transmits the short message signal using the virtual phone number to the first short message service center, the first short message service center, having received the short message signal, requests routing information for the virtual phone number to the first home location register, the first home location register transmits routing information response signal including a previously stored actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number to the first short message service center in response to a signal requesting routing information, and the first short message service center, having received the routing information response signal, transmits the short message signal;

means for altering the short message signal; and

means for transmitting the altered short message signal to the second short message service center, wherein the second short message service center, having received the altered short message signal, requests routing information for the actual phone number to the second home location register, and the home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits the routing information for the actual phone number to the second short message service center, and the second short message service center, having received the routing information, transmits the short message signal to the terminating mobile switching center.

17. A value added service server for providing a virtual phone number service, the value added service server being associated with a mobile communication network including an originating mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a terminating mobile switching center, a short message service center, a home location register, the value added service server comprising:

means for receiving a short message signal including an actual phone number corresponding to a virtual phone number and a message signal from the short message service center, wherein the originating mobile switching center transmits the short message signal using the virtual phone number to the short message service center, the short message service center, having received the short message signal, requests routing information for the virtual phone number to the home location register, the home location register transmits a routing information response signal including a previously stored actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number to the short message service center in response to a routing information signal, and the short message service center, having received the routing information response signal, transmits the short message signal;

means for altering the short message signal; and

means for transmitting the altered short message signal to the short message service center, wherein the short message service center, having received the altered short message signal, requests routing information for the actual phone number to the home location register, and the home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits the routing information for the actual phone number to the short message service center, and the short message service center, having received the routing information, transmits the short message signal to the terminating mobile switching center.

18. A mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal and for providing a virtual phone number service, the mobile switching center being associated with a mobile communication network including a home location register and a subscriber management system, the mobile switching center comprising:

means for receiving a voice call for a virtual phone number from an originating terminal;

means for requesting routing information of the voice call for the virtual phone number to the home location register;

means for receiving a routing information signal from the home location register, wherein the home location register requests information about the virtual phone number to the subscriber management system, the subscriber management system, having received a request signal, determines whether subscription to a virtual phone number service has been made and whether subscription to an additional voice service has been made for the virtual phone number, the routing information signal includes information indicating this when the subscription to a virtual phone number service has been made and the subscription to an additional voice service has not been made; and

means for transmitting a message indicating that the voice call can not be made to the originating terminal if the routing information signal includes information indicating that subscription to an additional voice service is not made.

19. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a value added service server, the value added service server being associated with a mobile communication network including a terminating mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a portal gateway switching center, a first short message service center, a second short message service center, a first home location register and a second home location register, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a short message signal including a virtual phone number from the portal gateway switching center;

transmitting the short message signal to the first short message service center;

receiving the short message signal including information about an actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number from the first short message service center, wherein the value added service server transmits the short message signal to the first short message service center, the first short message service center, having received the short message signal, requests routing information for the short message to the first home location register, the first home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits a routing response signal including information about an actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number to the first short message service center, and the first short message service center, having received the routing response signal, transmits the short message signal including the information about the actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number;

altering the short message signal; and

transmitting the altered short message signal to the second short message service center, wherein the second short message service center, having received the altered short message signal, requests routing information for the actual phone number included in the altered short message to the second home location register, the second home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits the routing response signal including the information about the actual phone number to the second short message service center, the second short message service center, having received the routing response signal, the altered short message to the terminating mobile switching center.

20. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the first home location register has actual phone number data previously stored corresponding to virtual phone numbers.

21. The method as set forth in claim 19, wherein the step of altering the short message signal is performed by indicating that the short message is associated with a virtual phone number service in the short message.

22. The method as set forth in claim 19, further comprising the step of the second short message service center transmitting status information to the value added service server, and the value added service server, having received the status information, generating accounting information corresponding to the service.

23. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a value added service server value, the added service server associated with a mobile communication network including a terminating mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a portal gateway switching center, a short message service center, and a home location register, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a short message signal including a virtual phone number from the portal gateway switching center;

transmitting the received short message signal to the short message service center;

receiving the short message signal including information about an actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number from the short message service center, wherein the value added service server transmits the short message signal to the short message service center, the short message service center, having received the short message signal, requests routing information for the short message to the home location register, the home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits a routing response signal including information about an actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number to the short message service center, and the short message service center, having received the routing response signal, transmits the short message signal including the information about the actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number;

altering the short message signal; and

transmitting the altered short message signal to the short message service center, wherein the short message service center, having received the altered short message signal, requests routing information for the actual phone number included in the altered short message to the home location register, the home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits the routing response signal including the information about the actual phone number to the short message service center, the short message service center, having received the routing response signal, the altered short message to the terminating mobile switching center.

24. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein the home location register has actual phone number data previously stored corresponding to virtual phone numbers.

25. The method as set forth in claim 23, wherein the step of altering the short message signal is performed by indicating that the short message is associated with a virtual phone number service in the short message.

26. The method as set forth in claim 23, further comprising the step of the short message service center transmitting status information to the value added service server, and the value added service server, having received the status information, generating accounting information corresponding to the service.

27. A value added service server for providing a virtual phone number service, the value added service server being associated with a mobile communication network including a terminating mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a portal gateway switching center, a first short message service center, a second short message service center, a first home location register, and a second home location register, the value added service server comprising:

means for receiving a short message signal including a virtual phone number from the portal gateway switching center;

means for transmitting the received short message signal to the first short message service center;

means for receiving the short message signal including information about an actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number from the first short message service center, wherein the value added service server transmits the short message signal to the first short message service center, the first short message service center, having received the short message signal, requests routing information for the short message to the first home location register, the first home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits a routing response signal including information about the actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number to the first short message service center, and the first short message service center, having received the routing response signal, transmits the short message signal including the information about the actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number;

means for altering the short message signal; and

means for transmitting the altered short message signal to the second short message service center, wherein the second short message service center, having received the altered short message, requests routing information for the actual phone number included in the altered short message to the second home location register, the second home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits the routing response signal including the information about the actual phone number to the second short message service center, the second short message service center, having received the routing response signal, the altered short message to the terminating mobile switching center.

28. A value added service server for providing a virtual phone number service, the value added service server being associated with a mobile communication network including a terminating mobile switching center for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a portal gateway switching center, a short message service center, and a home location register, the value added service server comprising:

means for receiving a short message signal including a virtual phone number from the portal gateway switching center;

means for transmitting the received short message signal to the short message service center;

means for receiving the short message signal including information about an actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number from the short message service center, wherein the value added service server transmits the short message signal to the short message service center, the short message service center, having received the short message signal, requests routing information for the short message to the home location register, the home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits a routing response signal including information about an actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number to the short message service center, and the short message service center, having received the routing response signal, transmits the short message signal including the information about the actual phone number corresponding to the virtual phone number;

means for altering the short message signal; and

means for transmitting the altered short message signal to the short message service center, wherein the short message service center, having received the altered short message signal, requests routing information for the actual phone number included in the altered short message to the home location register, the home location register, having received a request for the routing information, transmits the routing response signal including the information about the actual phone number to the short message service center, the short message service center, having received the routing response signal, the altered short message to the terminating mobile switching center.

29. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a long message service center, the long message service center being associated with a mobile communication network for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a mobile gateway associated with the mobile communication network, and a multimedia message service center, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a multimedia message signal including a virtual phone number from the mobile communication network;

requesting information about the virtual phone number included in the received multimedia message signal to the mobile gateway;

receiving the multimedia message signal including information about an actual phone number from the multimedia message service center, wherein the virtual phone number included in the multimedia message signal from the long message service center is mapped to the actual phone number and the multimedia message signal including the actual phone number is transmitted to the multimedia message service center, the multimedia message service center, having received the multimedia message signal performs predetermined tasks and transmits the multimedia message signal including the actual phone number;

altering the multimedia message signal; and

means for transmitting the altered multimedia message signal to the mobile communication network.

30. The method as set forth in claim 29, wherein the mobile gateway has actual phone number data previously stored corresponding to virtual phone numbers.

31. The method as set forth in claim 29, wherein the step of altering the multimedia message signal is performed by indicating that the multimedia message is associated with a virtual phone number service in the multimedia message.

32. The method as set forth in claim 29, the mobile communication network is constructed by combination of at least two different mobile communication service providers.

33. A method of providing a virtual phone number service in a mobile gateway, the mobile gateway being associated with a mobile communication network for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a long message service center associated with the mobile communication network, and a multimedia message service center, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a multimedia message signal from the long message service center;

mapping a virtual phone number included in the multimedia message signal to a corresponding actual phone number;

transmitting the multimedia message signal including the mapped actual phone number to the multimedia message service center, wherein the multimedia message service center, having received the multimedia message signal, transmits the multimedia message signal including the actual phone number to the long message service center, and the long message service center alters the received multimedia message information and transmits it to the mobile communication network.

34. The method as set forth in claim 33, wherein the mobile gateway has actual phone number data previously stored corresponding to virtual phone numbers.

35. The method as set forth in claim 33, wherein the step of altering the multimedia message signal is performed by indicating that the multimedia message is associated with a virtual phone number service in the multimedia message.

36. The method as set forth in claim 33, the mobile communication network is constructed by combination of at least two different mobile communication service providers.

37. A long message service center for providing a virtual phone number service, the long message service center being associated with a mobile communication network for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a mobile gateway associated with the mobile communication network, and a multimedia message service center, the long message service center comprising:

means for receiving a multimedia message signal including a virtual phone number from the mobile communication network;

means for requesting information about the virtual phone number included in the received multimedia message signal to the mobile gateway;

means for receiving the multimedia message signal including information about an actual phone number from the multimedia message service center, wherein the virtual phone number included in the multimedia message signal from the long message service center is mapped to the actual phone number and the multimedia message signal including the actual phone number is transmitted to the multimedia message service center, the multimedia message service center, having received the multimedia message signal performs predetermined tasks and transmits the multimedia message signal including the actual phone number;

means for altering the multimedia message signal; and

means for transmitting the altered multimedia message signal to the mobile communication network.

38. A mobile gateway for providing a virtual phone number service, the mobile gateway being associated with a mobile communication network for managing at least one mobile communication terminal, a long message service center associated with the mobile communication network, and a multimedia message service center, the mobile gateway comprising:

means for receiving a multimedia message signal from the long message service center;

means for mapping a virtual phone number included in the multimedia message signal to a corresponding actual phone number; and

means for transmitting the multimedia message signal including the mapped actual phone number to the multimedia message service center, wherein the multimedia message service center, having received the multimedia message signal, transmits the multimedia message signal including the actual phone number to the long message service center, and the long message service center alters the received multimedia message information and transmits it to the mobile communication network.