Cecil Bernard Cates

US Patent:

6359980, Mar 19, 2002

Filed:

Aug 31, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/651866

Inventors:

Robert Petrelli - Neshanic Station NJ
Cecil Bernard Cates - West Orange NJ
James Patrick Dunn - Sandwich IL
Ronald Bruce Martin - Carol Stream IL
Jack Ray Penrod - Bolingbrook IL
John William Peterson - Lisle IL
Deborah Margaret Stockert - Singapore, SG

Assignee:

Lucent Technologies Inc. - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

H04M 700

US Classification:

37922113, 37921601, 379289

Abstract:

A method apparatus for finding and assigning both commercially valuable and vanity (CSV) numbers in a telecommunications system that permits number portability. CSV Numbers are identified by a rules based process that combs the unused number database for valuable combination and saves those numbers in a special database. Those numbers that are not so identified stay in the unused database for general assignment. To assign a CSV number, a similar process is used to generate candidate numbers based on a desired keyword, and then the candidate numbers are used to query the special database and even the general unused number database to get available candidates. The available candidates are offered to the requesting user and the user may accept or decline.