System for establishing publicly accessible telephone numbers and methods thereof
First Claim
1. A method for restricting access to a private telephone number within a range of private telephone numbers, comprising:
- establishing at least one temporary telephone number from an entirely different range of numbers than said range of private telephone numbers, wherein said range of temporary telephone numbers is greater than the range of private telephone numbers;
linking said at least one temporary number to said private number;
receiving a communication request for said at least one temporary number; and
routing said communication request received for said at least one temporary number to said private number.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This application relates to providing an end user control of temporary numbers established and linked to a trusted phone number using traditional forwarding mechanisms. Temporary phone numbers can be created and assigned to individuals to provide them with a unique point of contact. The temporary numbers are then linked to the individual'"'"'s private number. The temporary numbers can be shared with individuals and organizations with whom the individual has an interest in communicating with. However, these numbers will often find their way into the hands of third parties with whom the individual has no interest in talking with. When the user simply no longer feels that the numbers are being properly used, the user can remove the temporary numbers linked with their private number so no further calls can be made and routed to their private number. The temporary numbers can be used to uniquely identify the calling party.
13 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for restricting access to a private telephone number within a range of private telephone numbers, comprising:
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establishing at least one temporary telephone number from an entirely different range of numbers than said range of private telephone numbers, wherein said range of temporary telephone numbers is greater than the range of private telephone numbers; linking said at least one temporary number to said private number; receiving a communication request for said at least one temporary number; and routing said communication request received for said at least one temporary number to said private number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for identifying a caller comprising:
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establishing at least one temporary number associated with a private number in a range of private telephone numbers, said at least one temporary telephone number being selected from an entirely different range of numbers than said range of private telephone numbers, wherein said range of temporary telephone numbers is greater than the range of private telephone numbers; receiving a call to said temporary number from said caller; determining information about said caller from said temporary number called by said caller; providing said information to said private number; and routing said call received at said temporary number to said private number. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A communication device comprising:
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at least one processor; and a memory operatively coupled to said processor, said memory storing program instructions that when executed by said processor, causes said processor to; establish a temporary telephone number associated with a private telephone number in a range of private telephone numbers, said at least one temporary telephone number being selected from an entirely different range of numbers than said range of private telephone numbers, wherein said range of temporary telephone numbers is greater than the range of private telephone numbers; receive a call on said temporary number; provide caller identification information to said private number dependent on said temporary number called; direct said call to said private number; and deactivate said temporary number associated with said private number. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification