IP Library Granted Patent US 8,170,190
Granted Patent B2
US 8,170,190 · App. 11/960,911 · Granted May 1, 2012

Method and system for managing telephone number allocation

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,170,190
App. No.
11/960,911
Granted
May 1, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method in accordance with exemplary embodiments may include receiving, from a customer, limitation data associated with managing telephone number allocation, determining a limitation threshold based on at least the limitation data, allocating one or more telephone numbers to a customer based on at least the limitation threshold, and providing the one or more telephone numbers to a customer.

Claims (37)

1. A method, comprising:

receiving, from a customer, limitation data associated with managing telephone number allocation;

using a computer processor, determining a limitation threshold based on at least the limitation data;

using the computer processor, allocating one or more telephone numbers to the customer based on at least the limitation threshold; and

providing the one or more telephone numbers to the customer.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a request for one or more telephone numbers from the customer.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the customer is a reseller.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein limitation data includes at least one of customer inventory data, customer forecast data, and customer usage data.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising creating a telephone number pool associated with the customer.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the telephone number pool comprises a number of telephone numbers less than or equal to the limitation threshold.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

using the computer processor, scrubbing one or more telephone numbers associated with the telephone number pool.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein scrubbing one or more telephone numbers comprises scanning one or more databases for the one or more telephone numbers associated with the telephone number pool.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein scrubbing one or more telephone numbers further comprises associating the one or more telephone numbers with a customer identification number.

10. The method of claim 5 , further comprises:

using the computer processor, managing the telephone number pool.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein managing the telephone number pool further comprises monitoring an amount of telephone numbers associated with the telephone number pool based on the limitation threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein managing the telephone number pool further comprises allocating one or more additional telephone numbers to the telephone number pool at least based on limitation data.

13. A computer readable media comprising code to perform the acts of the method of claim 1 .

14. A system, comprising:

a database for storing data associated with managing telephone number allocation; and

a network element communicatively coupled to a network and configured to:

receive data from a customer wherein the data comprises information relating at least in part to managing telephone number allocation,

allocate one or more telephone numbers to the customer based on at least a limitation threshold associated with the data, and

provide the one or more telephone numbers to the customer.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein data includes at least one of customer inventory data, customer forecast data, and customer usage data.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the network element is further configured to allocate one or more telephone numbers by creating a telephone number pool associated with the customer.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the network element is further configured to scrub one or more telephone numbers associated with the telephone number pool.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the network element is further configured to manage the telephone number pool.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the network element is further configured to manage the telephone number pool by allocating one or more additional telephone numbers to the telephone number pool at least based on the limitation data.

20. A method, comprising:

receiving a request for one or more telephone numbers from a customer;

receiving, from the customer, limitation data associated with managing telephone number allocation;

using a computer processor, determining a limitation threshold based on at least the limitation data;

using the computer processor, allocating one or more telephone numbers to the customer based on at least the limitation threshold;

using the computer processor, scrubbing one or more telephone numbers associated with a telephone number pool; and

providing the one or more telephone numbers to the customer.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2009
From: MCI COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC.
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 023250/0376 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 18, 2009
From: VERIZON BUSINESS NETWORK SERVICES INC.
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 023250/0710 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2007
From: HUANG, KEVIN YANG; REYNOLDS, BECKY LYNN; NELAKONDA, BHARATH
To: VERIZON BUSINESS NETWORK SERVICES INC.
Reel/Frame 020275/0577 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 20, 2007
From: CHISANGA, GODFREY
To: MCI COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, INC.
Reel/Frame 020275/0596 →