Patent ID: 9332408
Filing Date: 2016-05-03
CPC Classification: H04M,H04W

Claim Text:
1. A method for routing calls between a third party telecommunications device (“TD”) and a subscriber TD, wherein the subscriber TD has a primary number associated with a primary service provider and at least one second line service number (“SLS number”), the method comprising the steps of: receiving a call at an SLS platform, wherein the SLS platform is in communication with a network of a primary service provider to the subscriber TD and a network of a primary service provider to the third party TD; determining that the call was routed to the SLS platform from the third party TD through the telephone network because the call was directed to an SLS number associated with a subscriber to the second line service, wherein the SLS number consists only of a valid network terminable number that is recognized by the telephone network as being a number to be processed by the SLS platform and, wherein the SLS number does not include the primary number of the subscriber TD or any prefix or suffix; the SLS platform determining if a relationship number is associated with the received SLS number and an actual calling number associated with the third party TD and, if not, assigning a relationship number to be associated with the received SLS number and the actual calling number associated with the third party TD, wherein the relationship number is a valid ten digit dialable number that is recognized by the telephone network as a valid network terminable number that is routed to the SLS platform for processing if a subsequent call is placed to the relationship number from the subscriber TD; identifying the primary number of the subscriber TD that is associated with the SLS number; if the relationship number has not been sent to the subscriber TD, the SLS platform establishing a data channel with the subscriber TD and transmitting information to identify the relationship number, the SLS number and the actual calling number to the subscriber TD over the data channel; and the SLS platform routing the received call over a voice channel to the primary number associated with the subscriber TD and modifies the calling number field of the received call to consist of only the relationship number without including any further information, whereby the subscriber TD can translate the relationship number into the identification of the called SLS number and the actual calling number and, a subsequent call to the relationship number by the subscriber ID will result in a call being placed to the third party TD through the SLS platform.