System and method for anonymizing a telephone number

• US 9,357,059 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2015
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chatterjee, Koushik
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Joseph T
• Application Number:
  US14/878,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20160028883A1
• Time in Patent Office: 236 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/037 of the control plane, e.g. signalling traffic

Abstract

A system and method for enabling a telephone number to be called in an anonymous manner by associating an identifier with the telephone number and providing for calling the number via the identifier. In one embodiment, the telephone call, including communication of the telephone number is performed using encryption. The identifier may be an email address or user identifier. Other users may call the telephone number via a website that operates as a virtual payphone, using software downloaded to a computer or other communication device, or by calling a voice portal, for example.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a user to receive telephone calls, the method comprising:

receiving, at a web server, a telephone number from a first user;

receiving, at the web server, an identifier, supplied by the first user, to be associated with the telephone number;

storing the telephone number in association with the identifier;

providing, via the web server, a registry of identifiers searchable by a plurality of users, the registry including the identifier;

receiving, at the web server, a selection of the identifier from a second user, via the registry of identifiers, desiring to communicate with the first user at a telephone associated with the telephone number;

retrieving, at the web server, the telephone number associated with the identifier;

initiating, with the web server, a communication to the telephone number associated with the identifier; and

connecting the second user with the communication to the telephone number to provide communication between the first user and the second user, wherein the telephone number is concealed from the second user throughout the communication between the second user and the first user.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the telephone number includes receiving a telephone number configured to operate on the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a mobile telephone network.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving an identifier includes receiving an email address.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving an identifier includes receiving a user-established user ID.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein storing includes storing the telephone number and identifier in a database configured to enable the telephone to be looked up via the identifier.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing a password in association with the telephone number and identifier.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing personal profile information of the user in association with the telephone number and identifier.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database is further configured to store information to block particular users from using the identifier to communicate with the first user.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the database is further configured to store times during which the identifier can be used to communicate with the first user.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the first user and the second user is a telephone call.

11. A system for establishing a user to receive telephone calls, the system comprising:

a web server; and

a database in communication with the server, the database configured to store a registry of identifiers searchable by a plurality of users, each of the identifiers associated with one or more telephone numbers, wherein the web server is programmed to;

host a website with an interface for a first user to enter a telephone number and an identifier;

receive the identifier, supplied by the first user, to be associated with the telephone number;

store the telephone number in the registry, in association with the identifier;

provide a registry of identifiers to a second user, the registry including the identifier;

receive a selection of the identifier from the second user desiring to communicate with the first user at a telephone associated with the telephone number;

retrieve the telephone number associated with the identifier;

initiate a communication to the telephone number associated with the identifier; and

connect the second user with the communication to the telephone number to provide communication between the first user and the second user, wherein the telephone number is concealed from the second user throughout the communication between the second user and the first user.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the telephone number is a telephone number configured to operate on the public switched telephone network.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the identifier is an email address.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the identifier is a user- established user ID.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the database is configured to enable a users to look up the telephone number via the identifier.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the database is further configured to store a password in association with the telephone number and identifier.

17. The system according to claim 11, wherein the web server is further configured to store personal profile information of the user in association with the telephone number and identifier.

18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the database is further configured to store information to block particular users from using the identifier to communicate with the first user.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the database is further configured to store times during which the identifier can be used to communicate with the first user.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein the communication between the first user and the second user is a telephone call.