# US 8,571,197 B1 · Direct dialing telephone calls by name > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,571,197 B1 - Document ID: US8571197B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/136,001 - Filed: 2011-07-20 - Granted: 2013-10-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-08-17 - Applicants: Victor Chartrand - Inventors: Victor Chartrand - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8571197B1 ## CPC - H04M 3/4935: {Connection initiated by DAS system} - H04M 3/44: Additional connecting arrangements for providing access to frequently-wanted subscribers, e.g. abbreviated dialling (at the subscriber's set H04M1/27; automatic redialling H04M3/424) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) ## Abstract By using letters, this invention provides telephone numbers that contain the actual initials or name of the recipient. With business subscribers, each company's stock marker ticker symbol is their telephone number, such as ‘GE’ for General Electric. Custom programming routes a call with the simple dialing input of only the recipient's initials or name. Only one well-defined area code is needed per State, such as ‘AZ’ for Arizona. The same number is used for landline, facsimile, special feature, and cellular connections. Telephone numbers are permanent and fixed for the life of the subscriber. Global call numbers, such as GE's, shrink from 011-44-207-302-6000 to ‘UK-LO-GE. ## Claims ### Claim 1 In a telecommunications system that is operative to route telephone calls to a specific communications device of a particular business subscriber, a routing system for routing a telephone call from a caller to the specific communications device, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the particular business subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular business subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein said means for routing comprises a signal processor that receives a signal containing said telephone number and a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein said telephone number comprises a tilde, followed by an upper case letter ‘O’, followed by a one-letter stock ticker symbol. ### Claim 2 In a telecommunications system that is capable of routing telephone calls to a specific communications device of a particular business subscriber, a system for routing a telephone call from a caller to said specific communications device, said system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the particular business subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular business subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein said means for routing comprises a signal processor that receives a signal containing said telephone number and a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein, if the telephone call is directed to a business that is located in a ‘State’, said telephone number comprises a two-letter abbreviation of said ‘State’ or an abbreviation of a city within said ‘State’ in which said business is located, followed by a tilde, followed by a one-character to four-character stock ticker symbol. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The routing system of claim 2 wherein said telephone number comprises a two-letter abbreviation of said ‘State’ or an abbreviation of the city within said ‘State’ in which said business is located, followed by a tilde, followed by a one-letter to four-letter stock ticker symbol, followed by three to six characters, directing the telephone call to said specific communications device. ### Claim 4 In a telecommunications system that is operative to route telephone calls to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber, a call routing system for routing a telephone call from a caller to the specific communications device, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the particular subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber by recognizing said telephone number, wherein said telephone number comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two characters indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter code indicating the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a lower case letter indicating the month in which the particular subscriber was born. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The call routing system of claim 4 wherein said telephone number comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code indicating the ‘State’ in which the particular subscriber was born or a two-letter remaining country code indicating the remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a lower case letter indicating the month in which the particular subscriber was born. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The call routing system of claim 5 wherein said telephone number comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter upper case ‘State’ code indicating the ‘State’ in which the particular subscriber was born or a two-letter upper-case or a lower-case remaining country code indicating the remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a lower case letter indicating the month in which the particular subscriber was born. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The call routing system of claim 4 wherein said telephone number comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code or remaining country code indicating the location at which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a lower case letter indicating the month in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code indicating the ‘State’ of residence of the particular subscriber. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The call routing system of claim 4 wherein one of said subscriber's two-letter initials is an upper-case letter or a lower-case letter and the other of said particular subscriber's two-letter initials is an upper-case letter or a lower-case letter, with any combination of said upper-case or lower-case letters indicating that the call is directed to a landline telephone number, a facsimile machine number, a special features number, or a cellular telephone number. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The call routing system of claim 8 wherein both of said two-letter initials are upper-case letters and the call is directed to a landline telephone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The call routing system of claim 8 wherein a first of said two-letter initials is an upper-case letter, a second of said two-letter initials is a lower-case letter and the call is directed to a facsimile machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The call routing system of claim 8 wherein a first of said two-letter initials is a lower-case letter, a second of said two-letter initials is an upper-case letter and the call is directed to a special features database. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The call routing system of claim 8 wherein both of said two-letter initials are lower-case letters and the call is directed to a cellular telephone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) The call routing system of claim 4 wherein said telephone number comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits that indicate the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter code indicating a ‘State’ or a remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a lower-case letter indicating the month in which the particular subscriber was born. ### Claim 14 In a telecommunications system that is operative to route telephone calls to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber, a routing system for routing a telephone call from a caller to the specific communications device, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the particular subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein said means for routing comprises a signal processor that receives a signal containing said telephone number and a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein said telephone number comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by four letters chosen by the particular subscriber. ### Claim 15 In a telecommunications system that is operative to route telephone calls to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber, a routing system for routing a telephone call from a caller to the specific communications device, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the particular subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein said telephone number is a permanent local telephone number for the particular subscriber that comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code or a two-letter remaining country code indicating the ‘State’ or the remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two lower case letters indicating the city in which the particular subscriber was born. ### Claim 16 In a telecommunications system that is operative to route telephone calls to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber, a muting system for muting a telephone call from a caller to the specific communications device, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the particular subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein said telephone number comprises a reverse quote, followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the ‘State’ or the remaining country in which the particular subscriber subscribes, followed by a permanent local telephone number for the particular subscriber that comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code or a two-letter remaining country code indicating the ‘State’ or the remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two lower case letters indicating the city in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the city or other location in which the particular subscriber subscribes. ### Claim 17 In a telecommunications system that is operative to route telephone calls to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber, a routing system for routing a telephone call from a caller to the specific communications device, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the particular subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein said telephone number comprises a reverse quote, followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the ‘State’ or the remaining country in which the particular subscriber subscribes, followed by a permanent local telephone number for the particular subscriber that comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code or a two-letter remaining country code indicating the ‘State’ or the remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by two lower case letters indicating the city in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the city or other location in which the particular subscriber subscribes. ### Claim 18 In a telecommunications system that is operative to route telephone calls to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber, a routing system for routing a telephone call from a caller to the specific communications device, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the particular subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein said telephone number comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two characters indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by an upper-case two-letter code indicating the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a lower-case two-letter code indicating the city in which the particular subscriber was born. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The routing system of claim 18 wherein if said telephone call is directed to a ‘State’ or remaining country that differs from the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the particular subscriber subscribes, said telephone number further comprises an upper-case two-letter area code. ### Claim 20 In a telecommunications system that is operative to route telephone calls to a specific communications device of a business subscriber, a routing system for routing a telephone call from a caller to the specific communications device, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the business subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the business subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein said means for routing comprises a signal processor that receives a signal containing said telephone number and a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein said telephone number comprises a two-letter ‘State’ abbreviation, followed by a tilde, followed by a one-letter to four-letter stock ticker symbol, followed by three to six digits, directing the telephone call to the business subscriber. ### Claim 21 A method of processing a telephone call to a business subscriber, the method comprising: assigning a telephone number to the business subscriber and routing the telephone call to the business subscriber; wherein routing the telephone call comprises processing a signal that contains said telephone number and activating a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein said telephone number comprises a tilde, followed by an upper case letter ‘O’, followed by a one-letter stock ticker symbol. ### Claim 22 A method for routing a telephone call from a caller to a specific communications device of a particular business subscriber, said method for routing comprising: assigning a telephone number to the particular business subscriber; and routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular business subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein routing the telephone call comprises processing a signal that contains said telephone number and activating a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein, if the telephone call is directed to a business that is located in a ‘State’, said telephone number comprises a two-letter abbreviation of said ‘State’, followed by a tilde, followed by a one-character to four-character stock ticker symbol. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The method for routing of claim 18 wherein said telephone number comprises a two-letter ‘State’ abbreviation, followed by a tilde, followed by a one-letter to four-letter stock ticker symbol, followed by three to six characters, directing the telephone call to said specific communications device. ### Claim 24 A method of processing a telephone call to a subscriber, the method comprising: assigning a telephone number to the subscriber and routing the telephone call to the subscriber; wherein routing the telephone call comprises processing a signal that contains said telephone number and activating a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein said telephone number comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two characters indicating the year in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter code indicating the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the subscriber was born, followed by a lower case letter indicating the month in which the subscriber was born. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein said telephone number comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code indicating the ‘State’ in which the subscriber was born or a two-letter remaining country code indicating the remaining country in which the subscriber was born, followed by a lower case letter indicating the month in which the subscriber was born. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein said telephone number comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter upper case ‘State’ code indicating the ‘State’ in which the subscriber was born or a two-letter upper-case or lower-case remaining country code indicating the remaining country in which the subscriber was born, followed by an upper-case letter indicating the month in which the subscriber was born. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein said telephone number comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the subscriber was born, followed by a first two-letter ‘State’ code or remaining country code indicating the ‘State’ or remaining country which the subscriber was born, followed by a lower case letter indicating the month in which the subscriber was born, followed by followed by a second two-letter ‘State’ code indicating the ‘State’ of residence of the subscriber. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein one of said subscriber's two-letter initials is an upper-case letter or a lower-case letter and the other of said subscriber's two-letter initials is an upper-case letter or a lower-case letter, with any combination of said upper-case or lower-case letters indicating a landline telephone number, a facsimile machine number, a special features number or a cellular telephone number. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein both of said two-letter initials are upper-case letters and the call is directed to a landline telephone. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 wherein a first of said two-letter initials is an upper-case letter, a second of said two-letter initials is a lower-case letter and the call is directed to a facsimile machine. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 wherein a first of said two-letter initials is a lower-case letter, a second of said two-letter initials is an upper-case letter and the call is directed to a special features database. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The method of claim 28 wherein both of said two-letter initials are lower-case letters and the call is directed to a cellular telephone. ### Claim 33 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24 wherein said telephone number comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits that indicate the year in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter code indicating the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the subscriber was born, followed by a lower-case letter indicating the month in which the subscriber was born. ### Claim 34 A method of processing a telephone call to a subscriber, the method comprising: assigning a telephone number to the subscriber and routing the telephone call to the subscriber; wherein routing the telephone call comprises processing a signal that contains said telephone number and activating a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein said telephone number comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by four letters chosen by the subscriber. ### Claim 35 A method of processing a telephone call to a subscriber, the method comprising: assigning a telephone number to the subscriber and routing the telephone call to the subscriber, wherein said telephone number is a permanent local telephone number for the subscriber that comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code indicating the ‘State’ in which the subscriber was born or a two-letter remaining country code indicating the remaining country in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two lower case letters indicating the city in which the subscriber was born. ### Claim 36 A method of processing a telephone call to a subscriber, the method comprising: assigning a telephone number to the subscriber and routing the telephone call to the subscriber, wherein said telephone number comprises a reverse quote, followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the subscriber subscribes, followed by a permanent local telephone number for the subscriber that comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code indicating the ‘State’ in which the subscriber was born or a two-letter remaining country code indicating the remaining country in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two lower case letters indicating the city in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the city or other location in which the particular subscriber subscribes. ### Claim 37 A method of processing a telephone call to a subscriber, the method comprising: assigning a telephone number to the subscriber and routing the telephone call to the subscriber, wherein said telephone number comprises a reverse quote, followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the subscriber subscribes, followed by a permanent local telephone number for the subscriber that comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter ‘State’ code indicating the ‘State’ in which the particular subscriber was born or a two-letter remaining country code indicating the remaining country in which the subscriber was born, followed by a two lower case letters indicating the city in which the subscriber was born. followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the city or other location in which the particular subscriber subscribes. ### Claim 38 A method of processing a telephone call to a subscriber, the method comprising: assigning a telephone number to the subscriber and routing the telephone call to the subscriber; wherein routing the telephone call comprises processing a signal that contains said telephone number and activating a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein said telephone number comprises the subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two characters indicating the year in which the subscriber was born, followed by an upper-case two-letter code indicating the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the subscriber was born, followed by a lower-case two-letter code indicating the city in which the subscriber was born. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The method of claim 38 wherein if said telephone call is directed to a ‘State’ or that differs from the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the subscriber subscribes, said telephone number further comprises an upper-case two-letter area code. ### Claim 40 A method of processing a telephone call to a business subscriber, the method comprising: assigning a telephone number to the business subscriber and muting the telephone call to the business subscriber; wherein said telephone number comprises a two-letter ‘State’ abbreviation, followed by a tilde, followed by a one-letter to four-letter stock ticker symbol, followed by three to six digits, directing the telephone call to the business subscriber. ### Claim 41 In a telecommunications system that is operative to route telephone calls to a specific communications device of a particular subscriber, a routing system for routing a telephone call from a caller to the specific communications device, said routing system comprising: means for assigning a telephone number to the particular subscriber; and means for routing the telephone call to the specific communications device of the particular subscriber by recognizing said telephone number; wherein said means for routing comprises a signal processor that receives a signal containing said telephone number and a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein said telephone number comprises a reverse quote, followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the ‘State’ or remaining country or city in which the particular subscriber subscribes, followed by a local telephone number for the particular subscriber. ### Claim 42 (depends on 41) The routing system of claim 41 wherein said local telephone number comprises the particular subscriber's upper-case two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by an upper-case two-letter code indicating the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a lower case letter indicating the month in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter upper-case abbreviation of the ‘State’, country or Province of service of the particular subscriber or followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the city of service comprising an upper-case letter followed by a lower-case letter. ### Claim 43 A method of processing a telephone call to a subscriber, the method comprising: assigning a telephone number to the subscriber and routing the telephone call to the subscriber; wherein routing the telephone call comprises processing a signal that contains said telephone number and activating a switching matrix that routes the telephone call; and wherein said telephone number comprises a reverse quote, followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the ‘State’ or remaining country or city in which the subscriber subscribes, followed by a local telephone number for the subscriber. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The method of claim 43 wherein said local telephone number comprises the particular subscriber's two-letter initials, followed by two digits indicating the year in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter code indicating the ‘State’ or remaining country in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a lower case letter indicating the month in which the particular subscriber was born, followed by a two-letter upper-case abbreviation of the ‘State’, country, or Province of service of the particular subscriber, or followed by a two-letter abbreviation of the city of service, comprising an upper-case letter followed by a lower-case letter.