Systems and Methods for Providing Sender-Based Routing

Abstract

A system and method for providing sender-based routing is provided. The method comprises assigning a unique identifier to a first user. A single communication address is associated with the first user and a second user. A communication from the first user is routed to the second user based on the single communication address and the unique identifier.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary architecture for providing sender-based routing according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary architecture for providing sender-based routing over a voice network according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of an exemplary architecture for providing sender-based routing over a voice network and/or a data network according to one embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary process for routing telephone calls based on a unique identifier associated with the sender according to one embodiment; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary process for providing sender-based routing according to one embodiment.

Claims

1. A method for providing sender-based routing, comprising: assigning a unique identifier to a first user;associating a single communication address with the first user and a second user; androuting a communication from the first user to the second user based on the single communication address and the unique identifier.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the single communication address comprises a phone number.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the single communication address comprises an email address.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the single communication address is associated with one or more other users.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the single communication address comprises an instant message address.

6. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising instructing a third party to perform the step of routing the communication from the first user to the second user.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the single communication address is assigned to one or more third users associated with one or more different unique identifiers.

8. A system for providing sender-based routing, comprising: an application server configured to assign a unique identifier to a first user and to associate a single communication address with the first user and a second user; anda routing server configured to route a communication from the first user to the second user based on the single communication address and the unique identifier.

9. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the single communication address comprises a phone number.

10. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the single communication address comprises an email address.

11. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the single communication address is associated with one or more other users.

12. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the single communication address comprises an instant message address.

13. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the routing server is further configured to instruct a third party to perform the step of routing a communication from the first user to the second user.

14. The system recited in claim 8, further comprising a subscriber directory for storing the unique identifier.

15. The system recited in claim 8, wherein the application server is further configured to assign the single communication address to one or more third users associated with one or more different unique identifiers.

16. A computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program including instructions for providing sender-based routing, comprising: assigning a unique identifier to a first user;associating a single communication address with the first user and a second user; androuting a communication from the first user to the second user based on the single communication address and the unique identifier.

17. The computer readable storage medium recited in claim 16, wherein the single communication address comprises a phone number.

18. The computer readable storage medium recited in claim 16, wherein the single communication address comprises an email address.

19. The computer readable storage medium recited in claim 16, wherein the single communication address is associated with one or more other users.

20. The computer readable storage medium recited in claim 16, wherein the single communication address comprises an instant message address.

21. The computer readable storage medium recited in claim 16, further comprising instructing a third party to perform the step of routing a communication from the first user to the second user.

22. The computer readable storage medium recited in claim 16, wherein the single communication address is assigned to one or more third users associated with one or more different unique identifiers.

23. A method for providing anonymous, disposable communication addresses comprising: receiving data associated with a first user and a second user;assigning a single communication address to the first user and the second user; androuting a communication from the first user to the second user when the first user initiates a communication via the communication address.

24. The method recited in claim 23, further comprising routing a communication from the second user to the first user when the second user initiates a communication via the communication address.

25. The method recited in claim 23, further comprising allowing the first user or the second user to cancel the single communication address.

26. A method for providing sender-based routing, comprising: assigning a unique identifier to a first user and a second user;associating a first communication address with the first user and a second communication address with the second user;routing a communication from the first user to the second user based on the first communication address and the unique identifier; androuting a communication from the second user to the first user based on the second communication address and the unique identifier.

27. The method recited in claim 26, wherein the first communication address and the second communication address comprise telephone numbers local to the first user and the second user.

28. The method recited in claim 26, wherein the first communication address and the second communication address are associated with one or more third users.