IP Library Granted Patent US 9,553,993
Granted Patent B2
US 9,553,993 · App. 14/611,738 · Granted Jan 24, 2017

Device and process for selecting one of a plurality of direct inward dialing numbers

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,553,993
App. No.
14/611,738
Granted
Jan 24, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

Selecting one of a plurality of direct inward dialing numbers for dialing an international number preceded by a direct inward dialing number is disclosed. A destination phone number to be dialed by a wireless device is initially received at the wireless device. It is then determined that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number. In response to the determination that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number, one direct inward dialing number is selected from among a plurality of direct inward dialing numbers. The selected one direct inward dialing number connects the wireless device to a server. Next, the wireless device dials the one selected direct inward dialing number and determines that a connection between the wireless device and the server has been established. Finally, the international destination phone number is forwarded to the server.

Claims (52)

1. A method for dialing an international number preceded by a direct inward dialing number utilizing a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the wireless device, a destination phone number to be dialed by the wireless device;

determining that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number;

selecting, in response to the determination that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number, one direct inward dialing number from among a plurality of direct inward dialing numbers, the one direct inward dialing number connecting the wireless device to a server;

dialing, by the wireless device, the one selected direct inward dialing number;

determining that a connection between the wireless device and the server has been established; and

forwarding the international destination phone number to the server in response to the determination that the connection between the wireless device and the server has been established,

wherein selecting the one direct inward dialing number from among the plurality of the direct inward dialing numbers comprises load balancing between each of direct inward dialing numbers; and

wherein selecting the one direct inward dialing number from among the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers with the wireless device further comprises selecting the one direct inward dialing number associated with the server having the lowest load.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing, on the wireless device, the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein storing the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers on the wireless device comprises receiving, in response to the determination that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number, one or more available inward dialing numbers.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein storing the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers on the wireless device comprises adding or removing direct inward dialing numbers to or from the wireless device.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein storing the plurality of the direct inward dialing numbers on the wireless device comprises storing the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers on a subscriber identification module card.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein storing the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers on the wireless device comprises storing the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers on a memory of the wireless device.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein storing the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers on the wireless device comprises storing the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers in an application stored on a memory of the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein load balancing between each of direct inward dialing numbers stored on the wireless device comprises sequentially dialing each of the plurality of the direct inward dialing numbers.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein load balancing between each of direct inward dialing numbers stored on the wireless device comprises receiving a load on each server associated with each of the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers.

10. A method for dialing an international number preceded by a direct inward dialing number utilizing a wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the wireless device, a destination phone number to be dialed by the wireless device;

determining that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number;

selecting, in response to the determination that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number, one direct inward dialing number from among a plurality of direct inward dialing numbers, the one direct inward dialing number connecting the wireless device to a server;

dialing, by the wireless device, the one selected direct inward dialing number;

determining that a connection between the wireless device and the server has been established; and

forwarding the international destination phone number to the server in response to the determination that the connection between the wireless device and the server has been established,

wherein the server is a private branch exchange system; and

wherein selecting the one direct inward dialing number from among the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers with the wireless device further comprises selecting the one direct inward dialing number associated with the server having the lowest load.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that the destination phone number is not an international destination phone number.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising dialing, by the wireless device and in response to the determination that the destination phone number is not an international destination phone number, the destination phone number without selecting the one direct inward dialing number.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein selecting the one direct inward dialing number from among the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers comprises:

dialing, by the wireless device, a first direct inward dialing number;

determining that the first direct inward dialing number is unavailable; and

selecting, in response to the determination that the first direct inward dialing number is unavailable, a second direct inward dialing number, the second direct inward dialing number being different from the first direct inward dialing number.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein determining that the first direct inward dialing number is unavailable comprises receiving a signal, from a server associated with the first direct inward dialing number, that the server is unavailable.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein dialing the one selected direct inward dialing number comprises dialing the one selected direct inward dialing number without human interaction or augmentation.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein forwarding the international destination phone number comprises forwarding the international destination phone number without human interaction or augmentation.

17. A wireless device comprising at least one processor connected to at least one memory, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

receive a destination phone number to be dialed by the wireless device;

determine that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number;

select, in response to the determination that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number, one direct inward dialing number from among a plurality of direct inward dialing numbers, the one direct inward dialing number connecting the wireless device to a server;

dial the one selected direct inward dialing number;

determine that a connection between the wireless device and the server has been established; and

forward the international destination phone number to the server in response to the determination that the connection between the wireless device and the server has been established,

wherein the processor is configured to select the one direct inward dialing number from among the plurality of the direct inward dialing numbers utilizing load balancing between each of direct inward dialing numbers; and

wherein selecting the one direct inward dialing number from among the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers with the wireless device further comprises selecting the one direct inward dialing number associated with the server having the lowest load.

18. A non-transitory memory of a wireless device storing a computer program, the computer program comprising one or more code segments that, when executed, cause at least one processor to:

receive a destination phone number to be dialed by the wireless device; determine that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number;

select, in response to the determination that the destination phone number is an international destination phone number, one direct inward dialing number from among a plurality of direct inward dialing numbers, the one direct inward dialing number connecting the wireless device to a server;

dial the one selected direct inward dialing number;

determine that a connection between the wireless device and the server has been established; and

forward the international destination phone number to the server in response to the determination that the connection between the wireless device and the server has been established,

wherein the processor selects the one direct inward dialing number from among the plurality of the direct inward dialing numbers utilizing load balancing between each of direct inward dialing numbers; and

wherein selecting the one direct inward dialing number from among the plurality of direct inward dialing numbers with the wireless device further comprises selecting the one direct inward dialing number associated with the server having the lowest load.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 15, 2025
From: VERIZON VALUE, INC.
To: VERIZON PATENT AND LICENSING INC.
Reel/Frame 073109/0190 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 5, 2025
From: TRACFONE WIRELESS, INC.
To: VERIZON VALUE, INC.
Reel/Frame 072348/0937 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2016
From: RAMPRASAD, SATISH
To: TRACFONE WIRELESS, INC.
Reel/Frame 040733/0546 →