Disposable telephone numbers

• US 9,219,821 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Issued: 12/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: McDonald, Randy, Garrison, Odie, Bedingfield, James Carlton Sr., Droke, Terry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US14/291,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20140301539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.24, 379/93.21, 379/114.14, 37920201-2071, 379/221.01, 379/221.08, 455/416, 455/432.3, 370260-263, 370/265, 370/266, 370/338, 709/204, 348 1408- 141, 348/E7.083, 34821112-21113
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4535 using an address exchange platform which sets up a session between two nodes, e.g. rendezvous servers, session initiation protocols [SIP] registrars or H.323 gatekeepers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/61 based on the service used
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

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.

Claims

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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising retrieving subscription information associated with the conference bridge.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising comparing the subscription information to the day and time of the call.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising processing the payment for the conference bridge.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a credit card number as the payment for the conference bridge.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the payment for the conference bridge.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising abandoning the conference bridge.

8. A system, comprising:

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.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising retrieving subscription information associated with the conference bridge.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising comparing the subscription information to the date and time of the call.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising processing the payment for the conference service.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a credit card number as the payment for the conference service.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the payment for the conference service.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising abandoning the conference bridge in response to a declination of the payment.

15. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a computer to perform operations, the operations comprising:

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.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise processing an announcement associated with the disposable number.

17. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise processing a distinctive ring associated with the disposable number.

18. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise processing the payment.

19. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a credit card number as the payment.

20. The memory device of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise processing a credit card number as the payment.