Double number service

• US 8,781,521 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 07/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockville Technologies Private Limited
• Original Assignee: Rockville Technologies Private Limited
• Inventors: Khan, Abrar Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Application Number:
  US13/528,826
• Publication Number:
  US 20130157716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 455/551, 455/445, 379/220.01, 379/221.01, 379/211.02, 379/219, 370/352, 370/351, 370/355, 370/356
• US Class Current: 455/551
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42238 in systems with telephone lines with multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/183 Processing at user equipment or user record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein describe a double number service configured to allow a mobile or landline subscriber to receive an additional telephone number that is configured to make and receive communications such as telephone calls and text messages. Telecommunications systems and methods disclosed herein are configured to utilize a virtual phone number or double numbers, which a user may subscribe to, to publish and/or communicate to other users. The user may also subscribe to multiple virtual numbers, and use the virtual numbers on a single device. Accordingly, an end user may receive communications to an assigned number from a telecommunications service provider and the virtual or double number on the same telecommunications device.

Claims

1. A double number system comprising:

a database configured to include a mapping of subscribers, each entry within the mapping including a primary number and a double number assigned by the double number system to a double number subscriber, both numbers for use on a single communications device of the double number subscriber;

a receiver configured to receive data associated with a communication between the double number subscriber and a receiving party, the data including the primary number associated with the double number subscriber and a receiving party number associated with the receiving party;

a processor configured to determine when the communication is associated with the double number subscriber and to modify the data to include the double number for the double number subscriber; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data associated with the communication including the double number for the double number subscriber and the receiving party number, such that the receiving party cannot ascertain the primary number of the double number subscriber.

2. The double number system of claim 1, wherein the received data further includes prefix information preceding the primary number associated with the double number subscriber.

3. The double number system of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to determine if the communication is associated with the double number subscriber based on the prefix information and the mapping.

4. The double number system of claim 2, wherein the prefix information is the same for each double number subscriber.

5. The double number system of claim 1, wherein the double number is configured to be displayed at a device associated with the receiving party.

6. The double number system of claim 1, wherein the communication is one of a short message service message or a telephone call.

7. The double number system of claim 1, wherein the primary number is assigned by a service provider and the double number is assigned by the double number server.

8. The double number system of claim 1, wherein the double number subscriber includes a plurality of double numbers.

9. A double number system comprising:

a database configured to include a mapping of subscribers, each entry within the mapping including a primary number and a double number assigned by the double number system to a double number subscriber, both numbers for use on a single communications device of the double number subscriber;

a receiver configured to receive data associated with a communication between a first party and the double number subscriber, the data including a primary number associated with the first party and the double number for the double number subscriber;

a processor configured to determine if the communication is associated with the double number subscriber and to modify the data to include the primary number for the double number subscriber; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data associated with the communication including the primary number for the double number subscriber and the primary number associated with the first party.

10. The double number system of claim 9, wherein the data the transmitter is configured to transmit further includes prefix information preceding the primary number associated with the first party.

11. The double number system of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to determine if the communication is associated with the double number subscriber based on the received data including the double number for the double number subscriber and the mapping.

12. The double number system of claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to block the transmitter from transmitting data based on user preferences, the user preferences being stored within the mapping.

13. The double number system of claim 12, wherein the user preferences are one of blocking user-requested numbers and blocking numbers according to a time of day.

14. The double number system of claim 9, wherein the primary number of the first is configured to be displayed along with prefix information at a device associated with the double number subscriber, the prefix information indicating that the communication was to be communicated to the double number.

15. The double number system of claim 9, wherein the communication is one of a short message service message or a telephone call.

16. The double number system of claim 9, wherein the primary number is assigned by a service provider and the double number is assigned by the double number server.

17. The double number system of claim 9, wherein the double number subscriber includes a plurality of double numbers.

18. A double number system comprising:

a database configured to include a pool of double numbers;

a processor configured to receive a request from a user for a double number within the pool of double numbers and to assign one of the double numbers based on the request, the user request including a primary number assigned by a service provider, wherein both numbers are for use on a single communications device of the user; and

an index configured to include a mapping of the primary number, at least the double number assigned to a subscriber and user preferences of the user to enable selection of either the primary number or the double number based on said user preferences to complete a call.

19. The double number system of claim 18, wherein the user preferences are one of blocking numbers for user requested numbers and blocking numbers according to a time of day.

20. The double number system of claim 18, wherein the request includes a desire to be assigned to a specific double number.

21. A double number system comprising:

a database configured to include a mapping of subscribers, each entry within the mapping including a primary number and a double number assigned by the double number system to a double number subscriber, both numbers for use on a single communications device of the double number subscriber;

a receiver configured to receive data associated with a communication between the double number subscriber and a receiving party, the data including the primary number associated with the double number subscriber and a receiving party number associated with the receiving party;

a processor configured to determine if the communication is associated with the double number subscriber and to select a selected number which comprises either the double number or the primary number according to user preferences associated with the mapping; and

a transmitter configured to transmit data associated with the communication to include the selected number for the double number subscriber and the receiving party number.