Patent ID: 6327353
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
An apparatus for permitting temporary use of a telephone number to temporarily enable a subscriber terminal to have telephone communication by using a telephone number other than that assigned thereto, comprising:virtual telephone number notification means, responsive to a request from a first subscriber terminal to assign thereto a temporary telephone number which is a telephone number permitting temporary use, for assigning a temporary telephone number to the first subscriber terminal and notifying the first subscriber terminal of the assign temporary telephone number;virtual telephone number registration means for registering the temporary telephone number assigned to the first subscriber terminal in association with connection information on the first subscriber terminal; Call connection means, responsive to a call request from a second subscriber terminal by means of a temporary telephone number, for referring to said virtual telephone number registration means to read out connection information associated with the request temporary telephone number and connecting the second subscriber terminal to a subscriber terminal with which the connection information is associated;term registration means for registering a registration term specified or changed through the first subscriber terminal, the registration term being a period during which the temporary telephone number is validly assigned to the first subscriber terminal; andnotifying means for checking the validity of the temporary telephone number at predetermined intervals with reference to the registration term registered by said term registration means, and notifying, when the registration term has expired, the first subscriber terminal of the expiration of the registration term.