Method and apparatus for assigning a virtual number during porting of a primary number

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations for assigning a virtual phone number during porting of a primary phone number in a communication network, the operations comprising:

• receiving a request from a customer to port the primary phone number to the communication network;
• assigning the virtual phone number to the customer in response to receiving the request to port the primary phone number;
• mapping the virtual phone number to an internet protocol address associated with an endpoint device of the customer;
• and
• porting the primary phone number to the communication network for the customer, wherein the primary phone number is unavailable for receiving a call during the porting, and wherein the virtual phone number is useable for receiving a call during the porting;
• mapping the primary phone number to the internet protocol address associated with the endpoint device of the customer after the primary phone number has been successfully ported, wherein the primary phone number and the virtual phone number are both used to receive incoming calls for the customer;
• offering an option to the customer to continue to use both the primary phone number and the virtual phone number simultaneously;
• and
• disconnecting the virtual phone number if the customer decides to only retain the primary phone number.

An apparatus for assigning a virtual phone number during porting of a primary phone number in a communication network, comprising:

• an application server comprising a processor and a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
• receiving a request from a customer to port the primary phone number to the communication network;
• assigning the virtual phone number to the customer in response to receiving the request to port the primary phone number;
• mapping the virtual phone number to an internet protocol address associated with an endpoint device of the customer;
• and
• porting the primary phone number to the communication network for the customer, wherein the primary phone number is unavailable for receiving a call during the porting, and wherein the virtual phone number is useable for receiving a call during the porting
• mapping the primary phone number to the Internet protocol address associated with the endpoint device of the customer after the primary phone number has been successfully ported, wherein the primary phone number and the virtual phone number are both used to receive incoming calls for the customer;
• offering an option to the customer to continue to use both the primary phone number and the virtual phone number simultaneously;
• and
• disconnecting the virtual phone number if the customer decides to only retain the primary phone number.