Telephone number relocation guidance system

• US 6,643,363 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 11/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Noboru Miura
• Original Assignee: Noboru Miura
• Inventors: Miura, Noboru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/666,015
• Time in Patent Office: 1,141 Days
• Field of Search: 370/259, 370/901, 379/201.01, 379/201.02, 379/218.01, 379/221.13, 379/900, 379/903, 707/1, 707/10, 707/100, 707/102, 707/104.1, 709/201
• US Class Current: 379/201.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 370/901 Wide area network
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

A telephone number relocation guidance system that consists of a server (3) on the Internet (1) and terminal (2). The terminal (2) comes with input method that allows users to enter their information such as telephone number and etc, and display method to display the telephone number and other information, from the server (3). The server (3) has a database stored with numerous records of old telephone numbers and its corresponding new telephone number, and owner of the telephone and the processing unit sending the searched information of the old telephone number and its corresponding new telephone number entry from the terminal (2) and coming from the database.

Claims

1. A telephone number relocation guidance system comprising

a) a server connected to a global computer network, the server comprising:

i) a central processing unit having memory;

ii) a data storage device coupled to the central processing unit, such that the central processing unit reads data from and writes data to the data storage device under control of a program in memory;

iii) a network connection coupled to the central processing unit and the global computer network, such that the central processing unit reads data from and writes data to a terminal over the global communications network under control of a program in memory;

b) a database residing on the data storage device, comprising a plurality of records, each record comprising at least an old telephone number and a corresponding new telephone number and a name of an owner of the old and new telephone numbers;

the database being capable of storing a plurality of records for an old telephone number, such that a single old telephone number may have a plurality of corresponding records for new telephone numbers and names of owners;

the program in the memory of the central processing unit being programmed such that, in response to data received from a terminal over the global computer network, the server searches the database for an old telephone number and writes the data from the records for the old telephone number to the terminal over the global computer network, the data comprising at least one corresponding new telephone number and owner name from the database.

2. The telephone number relocation system of claim 1, in which the program controlling the central processing unit is programmed such that the records in the database can be added, updated or deleted in response to data received from the terminal over the global computer network.

3. The telephone number relocation system of claim 2, in which:

each record in the database further comprises a password; and

the program controlling the central processing unit is programmed such that the central processing unit will not change or delete a record unless a password is supplied by the terminal which matches the password in the record.

4. The telephone number relocation system of claim 1, in which each record in the database further comprises a note.

5. The telephone number relocation system of claim 1, in which the terminal is running a web browser program, and the server communicates with the terminal using hypertext markup language.

6. The telephone number relocation system of claim 1, in which the telephone numbers in the database are selected from the group comprising land telephone numbers, mobile telephone numbers, PHS and pagers.

7. The telephone number relocation system of claim 1, in which each record in the database further comprises a date, and the server writes a date updated in the date on the record when the record is created or updated.

8. The telephone number relocation system of claim 7, in which the server deletes records having a date older than a selected date.

9. The telephone number relocation system of claim 7, in which each record in the database further comprises a count of accesses, and the server increments the count of accesses in the record when the record is accessed.

10. The telephone number relocation system of claim 9, in which the server deletes records having a count of accesses which is less than a selected number.

11. A method of providing information from a server to a terminal over a global computer network, the information concerning changes from old telephone numbers to new telephone numbers, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a database comprising a plurality of records, each record comprising at least an old telephone number and a corresponding new telephone number and a name of an owner of the old and new telephone numbers, the database being capable of storing a plurality of records for an old telephone number, such that a single old telephone number may have a plurality of corresponding records for new telephone numbers and names of owners;

b) accepting data at the server from a terminal over the global computer network, the data comprising at least an old telephone number;

c) searching the database for the old telephone number; and

d) writing the data from the records for the old telephone number from the database to the terminal over the global computer network, the data comprising at least one corresponding new telephone number and owner name.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of

e) accepting command data from the terminal over the global computer network; and

f) adding, updating and deleting records from the database in response to the command data received from the terminal over the global computer network.

13. The method of claim 11, in which:

each record in the database further comprises a password; and

the method further comprises the steps of;

requiring a password as part of the command data;

comparing the password from the command data to the password in the record in the database; and

changing or deleting a record only if the password supplied by the terminal matches the password in the record.

14. The method of claim 11, in which the terminal is running a web browser program, and the server communicates with the terminal using hypertext markup language.

15. The method of claim 11, in which the telephone numbers in the database are selected from the group comprising land telephone numbers, mobile telephone numbers, PHS and pagers.

16. The method of claim 11, in which each record in the database further comprises a date, and the method further comprises the step of writing a date updated in the date on the record when the record is created or updated.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of deleting records having a date older than a selected date.

18. The method of claim 17, in which each record in the database further comprises a count of accesses, and the method further comprises the step of incrementing the count of accesses in the record when the record is accessed.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of deleting records having a count of accesses which is less than a selected number.