Double number service

Abstract

Embodiments disclosed herein describe a double number service configured to allow a mobile or landline subscriber to receive an additional telephone number that is configured to make and receive communications such as telephone calls and text messages. Telecommunications systems and methods disclosed herein are configured to utilize a virtual phone number or double numbers, which a user may subscribe to, to publish and/or communicate to other users. The user may also subscribe to multiple virtual numbers, and use the virtual numbers on a single device. Accordingly, an end user may receive communications to an assigned number from a telecommunications service provider and the virtual or double number on the same telecommunications device.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A double number system comprising:
 a database including a mapping of subscribers, an entry within the mapping including a primary number and a double number assigned to a double number subscriber, both numbers for use on a single communication device of the double number subscriber;   a receiver configured to receive data associated with a communication between the double number subscriber and a receiving party, the data including the primary number associated with the double number subscriber and a receiving party number associated with the receiving party;   a processor configured to determine whether the communication is associated with the double number subscriber and intended to be associated with the double number assigned to the double number subscriber, and to retrieve the double number assigned to the double number subscriber responsive to a determination that the communication is associated with the double number subscriber and intended to be associated with the double number assigned to the double number subscriber; and   a transmitter configured to transmit data associated with the communication including the retrieved double number assigned to the double number subscriber, such that the receiving party cannot ascertain the primary number of the double number subscriber.   
     
     
         2 . The double number system of  claim 1 , wherein the received data further includes prefix information preceding the primary number associated with the double number subscriber. 
     
     
         3 . The double number system of  claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the communication is associated with the double number subscriber and intended to be associated with the double number assigned to the double number subscriber based on the prefix information, the primary number and the mapping. 
     
     
         4 . The double number system of  claim 2 , wherein the prefix information is the same for each double number subscriber. 
     
     
         5 . The double number system of  claim 1 , wherein the double number is configured to be displayed at a device associated with the receiving party. 
     
     
         6 . The double number system of  claim 1 , wherein the communication is one of a short message service message or a telephone call. 
     
     
         7 . The double number system of  claim 1 , wherein the primary number is assigned by a service provider and the double number is assigned by a double number server. 
     
     
         8 . The double number system of  claim 1 , wherein the mapping comprises a plurality of double numbers assigned to the double number subscriber. 
     
     
         9 . A double number system comprising:
 a database including a mapping of subscribers, an entry within the mapping including a primary number and a double number assigned to a double number subscriber, both numbers for use on a single communications device of the double number subscriber;   a receiver configured to receive data associated with a communication between an initiating party and the double number subscriber, the data including a phone number associated with the initiating party and the double number assigned to the double number subscriber;   a processor configured to determine whether the communication is associated with the double number subscriber and directed to the double number assigned to the double number subscriber, and to retrieve the primary number for the double number subscriber responsive to a determination that the communication is associated with the double number subscriber and directed to the double number assigned to the double number subscriber; and   a transmitter configured to transmit data associated with the communication including the retrieved primary number for the double number subscriber and the phone number associated with the initiating party, such that the communication is sent to the primary number of the double number subscriber;   wherein the data the transmitter is configured to transmit further includes prefix information preceding the phone number associated with the initiating party to indicate that the communication was directed to the double number assigned to the double number subscriber.   
     
     
         10 . The double number system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to determine if the communication is associated with the double number subscriber based on the received data including the double number assigned to the double number subscriber and the mapping. 
     
     
         11 . The double number system of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to block the transmitter from transmitting data based on user preferences, the user preferences being stored within the mapping. 
     
     
         12 . The double number system of  claim 11 , wherein the user preferences are one of blocking user-requested numbers and blocking numbers according to a time of day. 
     
     
         13 . The double number system of  claim 9 , wherein the phone number of the initiating party is configured to be displayed along with prefix information at a device associated with the double number subscriber, the prefix information indicating that the communication was to be communicated to the double number. 
     
     
         14 . The double number system of  claim 9 , wherein the communication is one of a short message service message or a telephone call. 
     
     
         15 . The double number system of  claim 9 , wherein the primary number is assigned by a service provider and the double number is assigned by a double number server. 
     
     
         16 . The double number system of  claim 9 , wherein the mapping comprises a plurality of double numbers assigned to the double number subscriber. 
     
     
         17 . A double number system comprising:
 a database including a mapping of subscribers, an entry within the mapping including a primary number and a double number assigned to a double number subscriber, both numbers for use on a single communication device of the double number subscriber;   a receiver configured to receive data associated with a communication between the double number subscriber and a receiving party, the data including the primary number associated with the double number subscriber and a receiving party number associated with the receiving party;   a processor configured to determine whether the communication is associated with the double number subscriber and, responsive to a determination that the communication is associated with the double number subscriber, to select a selected number which comprises either the double number assigned to the double number subscriber or the primary number, according to user preferences associated with the double number subscriber; and   a transmitter configured to transmit data associated with the communication including the selected number for the double number subscriber and the receiving party number, such that the receiving party cannot ascertain from the communication whether the double number subscriber has another associated phone number other than the selected number.