Patent ID: 8676181

Claim:
A method for using an anonymous number associated with a mobile endpoint device in a communication network, comprising: establishing, by at least one processor in the communication network, a temporary anonymous number service for a vendor; receiving, by the at least one processor, a request from the mobile endpoint device having a mobile number, for a first temporary anonymous number, wherein the request is directed to the temporary anonymous number service, wherein the vendor bears a cost for the temporary anonymous number service; assigning, by the at least one processor, the first temporary anonymous number to the mobile endpoint device, wherein the assigning is in response to the request for the first temporary anonymous number from the mobile endpoint device to the temporary anonymous number service; receiving, by the at least one processor, a request from the vendor for location information for the mobile endpoint device in accordance with the first temporary anonymous number; providing, by the at least one processor, the location information for the mobile endpoint device to the vendor when the first temporary anonymous number has not expired; receiving, by the at least one processor, a call request from the vendor to reach the mobile endpoint device in accordance with the first temporary anonymous number, wherein the vendor is not provided with the mobile number; and forwarding, by the at least one processor, the call request to the mobile endpoint device when the first temporary anonymous number has not expired, wherein the forwarding the call request comprises mapping the first temporary anonymous number to the mobile number in a database.