Disposable telephone numbers
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- associating, by a server, a conference bridge to a defined period of time of activation, after which the conference bridge associated with a disposable number is deactivated;
determining, by the server, an expiration of the conference bridge for a day and time of the call;
disposing of, by the server, the disposable number in response to the expiration;
receiving, by the server after disposal of the disposable number, a call from a calling number to the disposable number associated with the conference bridge;
determining, by the server, the conference bridge is inactive for a date and time of the call to the disposable number;
routing, by the server, the call to the conference bridge in response to the conference bridge being inactive;
sending, by the server, a prompt to the calling number to pay for the conference bridge in response to the conference bridge being inactive;
receiving, by the server, an acknowledgment of a payment for the conference bridge; and
authorizing, by the server, the conference bridge in response to the payment.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
45 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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associating, by a server, a conference bridge to a defined period of time of activation, after which the conference bridge associated with a disposable number is deactivated; determining, by the server, an expiration of the conference bridge for a day and time of the call; disposing of, by the server, the disposable number in response to the expiration; receiving, by the server after disposal of the disposable number, a call from a calling number to the disposable number associated with the conference bridge; determining, by the server, the conference bridge is inactive for a date and time of the call to the disposable number; routing, by the server, the call to the conference bridge in response to the conference bridge being inactive; sending, by the server, a prompt to the calling number to pay for the conference bridge in response to the conference bridge being inactive; receiving, by the server, an acknowledgment of a payment for the conference bridge; and authorizing, by the server, the conference bridge in response to the payment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
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a processor; and a memory storing instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising; associating a disposable number to a conference bridge and to a subscriber phone number; associating the conference bridge to a defined period of time of activation, after which the conference bridge is deactivated; determining an expiration of the conference bridge; disposing of the disposable number in response to the expiration of the conference bridge; processing, after disposal, a call to the disposable number assigned to the conference bridge; determining the conference bridge is inactive for a date and time of the call to the disposable number; routing the call to the conference bridge in response to the conference bridge being inactive; sending a prompt to a calling number of the call, the prompt requiring payment for a conference service in response to the conference bridge being inactive; and processing the conference service to the conference bridge in response to the payment. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a computer to perform operations, the operations comprising:
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storing an association between a disposable number and information describing a conference bridge; associating the conference bridge to a defined period of time of activation, after which the conference bridge is deactivated; determining an expiration of the conference bridge; disposing of the disposable number in response to the expiration; receiving, after disposal of the disposable number, a call from a calling number to the disposable number; determining the conference bridge is inactive for a date and time of the call to the disposable number; routing the call to the conference bridge in response to the conference bridge being inactive; sending a prompt to the calling number of the call, the prompt requiring payment for a conference service in response to the conference bridge being inactive; and processing the conference service to the conference bridge in response to the payment. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification