Claims
- 1. A system for assigning dynamic telephone numbers on a temporary basis, said system comprising:
means for a requester to request said dynamic telephone number; means for assigning said dynamic telephone number to said requestor; means for mapping said dynamic telephone number to a standard telephone number of said requester; means for a caller to make calls to said dynamic telephone number; and means for routing calls made to said dynamic telephone number, from said dynamic telephone number to said standard telephone number.
- 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said requesting means comprises a means selected from the group comprising voice interface, voice interface utilizing speech recognition, computer interface, web page interface, communication with a service representative or combinations thereof.
- 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said assigning means comprises a number server having a pool of assigned and available dynamic telephone numbers.
- 4. A system according to claim 3, wherein after expiration of an assigned dynamic telephone number, the expired dynamic telephone number is returned to the pool of available dynamic telephone numbers.
- 5. A system according to claim 3, wherein after expiration of an assigned dynamic telephone number, callers calling the expired dynamic telephone number will be routed to a voice mail message indicating that the purpose of that dynamic telephone number has expired and any other information which may be useful to such callers.
- 6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said mapping means comprises a mapping database having entries for said dynamic telephone number and said standard telephone number.
- 7. A system according to claim 1, wherein said call means comprises a means selected from the group comprising voice interface, voice interface utilizing speech recognition, computer interface, web page interface, communication with a service representative or combinations thereof.
- 8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said routing means comprises a service control point having access to said mapping means.
- 9. A system according to claim 1, further including means for configuring said dynamic telephone number using parameters selected from the group comprising a personal identification number, valid lifetime of said dynamic telephone number, maximum number of callers who may call said dynamic telephone number, alternate instructions to be provided to callers in the event the dynamic telephone number is busy, or combinations thereof.
- 10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said valid lifetime of the dynamic number is specified in terms of time, maximum number of calls, maximum number of distinct callers, maximum cost for using the service, or combinations thereof.
- 11. A system according to claim 9, wherein said requester may use said configuring means to set up default parameters.
- 12. A system according to claim 9, wherein said alternate instructions comprise routing said call to a non-busy telephone number.
- 13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said dynamic telephone number is made available to said caller by means which hides said standard telephone number from said caller.
- 14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said dynamic telephone number is made available to said caller via e-mail.
- 15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said dynamic telephone number is made available to said caller via caller ID, wherein said dynamic telephone number is substituted for said standard telephone number in the Automatic Number Identification field.
- 16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said dynamic telephone number is made available to said caller via caller ID, wherein said call ID displays a ReplyTo field set to said dynamic telephone number.
- 17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said requester contacts said request means via a telephone and said caller contacts call means via a telephone.
- 18. The system according to claim 1, wherein said requester contacts said request means via a personal computer and said caller contacts call means via a telephone.
- 19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said requester contacts said request means via a telephone and said caller contacts call means via a personal computer.
- 20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said dynamic telephone number is encrypted.
- 21. The system according to claim 1, wherein said requester contacts said request means via a personal computer and said caller contacts call means via a personal computer.
- 22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said dynamic telephone number is encrypted.
- 23. A system for assigning dynamic e-mail addresses on a temporary basis, said system comprising:
means for a requester to request said dynamic e-mail address; means for assigning said dynamic e-mail address to said requestor; means for mapping said dynamic e-mail address to a standard e-mail address of said requester; means for a mailer to send e-mail to said dynamic e-mail address; and means for routing mail sent to said dynamic e-mail address, from said dynamic e-mail address to said standard e-mail address.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application of provisional application Serial No. 60/355,463 filed Feb. 7, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60355463 |
Feb 2002 |
US |