Apparatus and method for permitting temporary use of a telephone number

• US 6,327,353 B1
• Filed: 10/15/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Fukuzawa, Yohji, Morikawa, Toshihiro, Mitome, Hirofumi
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deane, Jr., William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/173,385
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 379/210, 379/211, 379/201, 379/212, 379/221, 379/210.01, 379/211.01, 379/211.02, 379/212.01, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/201.11, 379/201.04, 379/221.01, 379/221.06, 379/221.08, 379/213.01
• US Class Current: 379/201.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13102 Common translator
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13109 Initializing, personal profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1313 Metering, billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13349 Network management

Abstract

An apparatus and method for permitting temporary use of a telephone number which promptly permit temporary use of a different telephone number without requiring a telephone installation fee. Virtual telephone number notification unit assigns a virtual telephone number to a subscriber terminal at the request of the subscriber terminal, and virtual telephone number registration unit registers the thus-assigned virtual telephone number in association with connection information on the subscriber terminal. In response to call initiation by another subscriber terminal by means of the virtual telephone number, call connection unit refers to the virtual telephone number registration unit to read out the connection information associated with the virtual telephone number and, based on the connection information, connects the calling subscriber terminal to the first-mentioned subscriber terminal.

Claims

1. An apparatus for permitting temporary use of a telephone number to temporarily enable a subscriber terminal to have telephone communication by using a telephone number other than that assigned thereto, comprising:

virtual telephone number notification means, responsive to a request from a first subscriber terminal to assign thereto a temporary telephone number which is a telephone number permitting temporary use, for assigning a temporary telephone number to the first subscriber terminal and notifying the first subscriber terminal of the assign temporary telephone number;

virtual telephone number registration means for registering the temporary telephone number assigned to the first subscriber terminal in association with connection information on the first subscriber terminal;

Call connection means, responsive to a call request from a second subscriber terminal by means of a temporary telephone number, for referring to said virtual telephone number registration means to read out connection information associated with the request temporary telephone number and connecting the second subscriber terminal to a subscriber terminal with which the connection information is associated;

term registration means for registering a registration term specified or changed through the first subscriber terminal, the registration term being a period during which the temporary telephone number is validly assigned to the first subscriber terminal; and

notifying means for checking the validity of the temporary telephone number at predetermined intervals with reference to the registration term registered by said term registration means, and notifying, when the registration term has expired, the first subscriber terminal of the expiration of the registration term.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said connection information comprises information indicative of subscriber terminal assignment location.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising erasing means for erasing, at predetermined intervals of time, information registered by said virtual telephone number registration means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising term registration means for registering a registration term specified or changed by the first subscriber terminal, in association with the temporary telephone number;

and

erasing means for monitoring the registration term registered by said term registration means and erasing information in such a manner that when the registration term has expired, corresponding information registered by said virtual telephone number registration means is erased by said erasing means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising term updating means, responsive to a request for extension of registration term from the subscriber terminal which has received notification from said notifying means, for updating the corresponding registration term-registered by said term registration means.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising cancellation request-responsive erasing means, responsive to a request for cancellation of registration of temporary telephone number from the first subscriber terminal, for erasing information about the first subscriber terminal registered by said virtual telephone number registration means.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said call connection means includes ringing tone sending means for sending out a ringing tone specially prepared for call reception via a temporary telephone number, to a receiving-side subscriber terminal with respect to which connection is to be established in accordance with a call request from the second subscriber terminal.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:

said virtual telephone number registration means includes refusal registration means, responsive to a request from the first subscriber terminal for temporary refusal of call reception via the temporary telephone number being registered, for registering refusal information in association with the temporary telephone number assigned to the first subscriber terminal, and

said call connection means includes rejecting means, responsive to a call request from the second subscriber terminal addressed to the temporary telephone number, for rejecting the call request from the second subscriber terminal to a subscriber terminal with which the connection information is associated if while the said refusal registration means has the active refusal information associated with the requested virtual telephone number.

9. An apparatus for permitting temporary use of a telephone number to temporarily enable a subscriber terminal to have telephone communication by using a telephone number other than that assigned thereto, comprising:

virtual telephone number notification means, responsive to a request from a first subscriber terminal to assign thereto a temporary telephone number which is a telephone number permitting temporary use, for assigning a temporary telephone number to the first subscriber terminal and notifying the first subscriber terminal of the assigned temporary telephone number;

registration means for registering the temporary telephone number assigned to the first subscriber terminal and a basic charge for call, in association with connection information on the first subscriber terminal;

notification means, responsive to a call request from a second subscriber terminal by means of a temporary telephone number, for referring to said registration means and notifying the second subscriber terminal of a basic charge for call associated with the requested temporary telephone number;

call connection means, responsive to a connection request from the second subscriber terminal following notification by said notification means, for referring to said registration means to read out connection information associated with the requested temporary telephone number and connecting the second subscriber terminal to a subscriber terminal with which the connection information is associate;

term registration means for registering a registration term specified or changed through the first subscriber terminal, the registration term being a period during which the temporary telephone number is validly assigned to the first subscriber terminal; and

notifying means for checking the validity of the temporary telephone number at predetermined intervals with reference to the registration term registered by said term registration means, and notifying, when the registration term has expired, the first subscriber terminal of the expiration of the registration term.

10. An apparatus for permitting temporary use of a telephone number to temporarily enable a subscriber terminal to have telephone communication by using a telephone number other than that assigned thereto, comprising:

virtual telephone number notification means, responsive to a request from a first subscriber terminal to assign thereto a temporary telephone number which is a telephone number permitting temporary use, for assigning a temporary telephone number to the first subscriber terminal and notifying the first subscriber terminal of the assigned temporary telephone number;

registration means for registering the temporary telephone number assigned to the first subscriber terminal and a basic charge for call, in association with connection information on the first subscriber terminal;

notification means, responsive to a call request from a second subscriber terminal by means of a temporary telephone number, for referring to said registration means and notifying the second subscriber terminal of a basic charge for call associated with the requested temporary telephone number;

call connection means, responsive to a connection request from the second subscriber terminal following notification by said notification means, for referring to said registration means to read out connection information associated with the requested temporary telephone number and connecting the second subscriber terminal to a subscriber terminal with which the connection information is associated;

term registration means for registering a registration term specified or changed through the first subscriber terminal, the registration term being a period during which the temporary telephone number is validly assigned to the first subscriber terminal; and

notifying means for checking the validity of the temporary telephone number at predetermined intervals with reference to the registration term registered by said term registration means, and notifying, when the registration term has expired, the first subscriber terminal of the expiration of the registration term.

11. An apparatus for permitting temporary use of a telephone number, comprising:

assigning means, responsive to a request from a subscriber terminal to assign thereto a temporary telephone number, for assigning the subscriber terminal a new temporary telephone number other than a telephone number already assigned thereto;

connection processing means for performing a call connection process by using the temporary telephone number during a connection process for connecting a call to the subscriber terminal;

term registration means for registering a registration term specified or changed through the first subscriber terminal, the registration term being a period during which the temporary telephone number is validly assigned to the first subscriber terminal; and

notifying means for checking the validity of the temporary telephone number at predetermined intervals with reference to the registration term registered by said term registration means, and notifying, when the registration term has expired, the first subscriber terminal of the expiration of the registration term.

12. A method for use in an apparatus for permitting temporary use of a telephone number to temporarily enable a subscriber terminal to have telephone communication by using a telephone number other than that assigned thereto, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request from a subscriber terminal to assign thereto a temporary telephone number, and assigning the subscriber terminal a new temporary telephone number other than a telephone already assigned thereto; and

performing a call connection process by using the temporary telephone number when a connection process for connecting a call to the subscriber terminal is requested;

registering a registration term specified or changed through the subscriber terminal, the registration term being a period during which the temporary telephone number is validly assigned to the subscriber terminal; and

checking the validity of the temporary telephone number at predetermined intervals with reference to the registered registration term and notifying, when the registration term has expired, the subscriber terminal of the expiration of the registration term.