Disposable telephone numbers

• US 20090016516A1
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McDonald, Randy, Garrison, Odie H., Droke, Terry R., Bedingfield, James C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,085,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/202.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed that provide disposable numbers for a conference service. A disposable number is assigned to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated. A call is received to the disposable number, and the call is routed to the conference bridge. A database is queried that associates the disposable number to a subscriber'"'"'s number. Subscriber information is retrieved that describes when a conference bridge subscription is active. If the conference bridge subscription is active, then a caller is connected to the conference bridge. If the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then the caller is prompted to pay for a conference service.

Claims

1. A method of providing disposable numbers for a conference service, comprising:

assigning a disposable number to a conference bridge;

receiving a call to the disposable number; and

routing the call to the conference bridge.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising querying a database that associates the disposable number to a subscriber'"'"'s number.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising retrieving an announcement associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising retrieving a distinctive ring associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number.

5. The method according to claim 2, further comprising retrieving a rule associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a caller'"'"'s payment for the conference service.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the caller declines to pay for the conference service, then further comprising abandoning the call.

8. A system, comprising:

means for assigning a disposable number to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated;

means for receiving a call to the disposable number;

means for routing the call to the conference bridge;

means for querying a database that associates the disposable number to a subscriber'"'"'s number;

means for retrieving subscriber information describing when a conference bridge subscription is active;

if the conference bridge subscription is active, then means for connecting a caller to the conference bridge; and

if the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then means for prompting the caller to pay for a conference service.

9. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving an announcement associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number.

10. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving a distinctive ring associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number.

11. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving a rule associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number.

12. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for receiving a caller'"'"'s payment for the conference service.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein when the caller declines to pay for the conference service, then further comprising means for abandoning the call.

14. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving routing instructions from the database.

15. The system according to claim 8, further comprising means for retrieving a rule associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number that describes times during which calls to the disposable number are not desired.

16. A method of providing disposable numbers for a conference service, comprising:

assigning a disposable number to a conference bridge that is only activated for a defined period of time, after which the disposable number is disposed and deactivated;

receiving a call to the disposable number;

routing the call to the conference bridge;

querying a database that associates the disposable number to a subscriber'"'"'s number;

retrieving subscriber information describing when a conference bridge subscription is active;

if the conference bridge subscription is active, then connecting a caller to the conference bridge; and

if the conference bridge subscription is inactive, then prompting the caller to pay for a conference service.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising retrieving an announcement associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising retrieving a distinctive ring associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising retrieving a rule associated with the disposable number and with the subscriber'"'"'s number.

20. The method according to claim 16, wherein when the caller declines to pay for the conference service, then further comprising abandoning the call.