Telephone status notification system

A method for providing telephone line status, the method comprising:

• providing at least one telephone line having a status;
• providing a communications network;
• communicating via said communications network a status request from a seeking user, said status request concerning said status of said at least one telephone line belonging to at least one sought user for which status is required wherein the request contains the telephone numbers of the sought users for which status is required;
• acquiring said status of said at least one telephone line;
• and
• communicating said status via said communications network, thereby providing said telephone line status.

A telephone line status notification system for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the system comprising:

• client software operable by a seeking user for receiving a list of telephone numbers provided by the user;
• a request server operative to receive said list of telephone numbers from said client software together with a request to determine the status thereof;
• and
• a telephone status acquirer coupled to said telephone network and containing information regarding status of said multiplicity of telephone lines,
• said request server being operative to:
• transmit said list of telephone numbers and said request to determine the status thereof to said telephone status acquirer;
• receive from said telephone status acquirer, information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list;
• and
• transmit said information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list to said client software, all without calling said telephone numbers in said list.

A telephone line status notification method for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the method comprising:

• providing a list of telephone numbers by a seeking user to client software;
• transmitting by said client software said list of telephone numbers together with a request to determine the status thereof to a telephone status acquirer;
• receiving from said telephone status acquirer, information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list;
• and
• transmitting said information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list to said client software, all without calling said telephone numbers in said list.

A telephone line status notification system for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the system comprising:

• client software resident in a cellular telephone and being operable by a seeking user for receiving a list of telephone numbers provided by the user;
• a telephone status acquirer coupled to said telephone network, said telephone status acquirer including information regarding status of said multiplicity of telephone lines;
• said client software and said telephone status acquirer being operative to communicate and to:
• transmit said list of telephone numbers and a request for the status thereof to said telephone status acquirer;
• receive from said telephone status acquirer, information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list;
• and
• transmit said information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list to said client software, all without calling said telephone numbers in said list.

A telephone line status notification method for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the method comprising:

• providing a list of telephone numbers by a seeking user to client software resident in a cellular telephone;
• transmitting by said client software said list of telephone numbers together with a request to determine the status thereof to a telephone status acquirer;
• receiving from said telephone status acquirer, information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list;
• transmitting said information regarding the status of the telephone numbers in said list to said client software, all without calling said telephone numbers in said list;
• and
• presenting said status information to a user by means of said cellular telephone.

A telephone line status notification system for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the system comprising:

• client software for receiving a list of telephone numbers from a user;
• a request server receiving said list of telephone numbers from said client software together with a request to determine the status of said telephone numbers;
• a telephone status acquirer communicatively coupled to said telephone network for providing status information regarding said multiplicity of telephone lines;
• and
• wherein status of telephone numbers in the list is determined without calling said telephone numbers.

A telephone line status notification method for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the method comprising:

• receiving a list of telephone numbers from a user;
• receiving said list of telephone numbers from said client software together with a request to determine the status of said telephone numbers;
• communicatively coupling a telephone status acquirer to said telephone network for providing status information regarding said multiplicity of telephone lines;
• and
• determining status of telephone numbers in the list without calling said telephone numbers.

A telephone line status notification system for use with a telephone network having a multiplicity of telephone lines, the system comprising:

• means for receiving a list of telephone numbers from a user;
• means for receiving said list of telephone numbers from said client software together with a request to determine the status of said telephone numbers;
• means for communicatively coupling a telephone status acquirer to said telephone network for providing status information regarding said multiplicity of telephone lines;
• and
• means for determining status of telephone numbers in the list without calling said telephone numbers.