# US 9,882,865 B1 · Multiple phone numbers for mobile device

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- Number: US 9,882,865 B1
- Document ID: US9882865B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/200,974
- Filed: 2016-07-01
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2016-07-01
- Assignees: Pinger, Inc.
- Applicants: Pinger, Inc.
- Inventors: Joseph K. Sipher; Elita Ng; Margi Patel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9882865B1

## CPC

- H04M 1/576: {associated with a pictorial or graphical representation}
- H04M 3/42042: {Notifying the called party of information on the calling party (details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72)}
- H04M 3/42102: {Making use of the called party identifier}
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)

## Abstract

According to various embodiments, a user can receive voice calls using multiple phone numbers on a mobile device such as a smartphone. The voice calls can be carried via the wireless carrier associated with the mobile device, using the device's normal allowance for voice calls, without the need to use large amounts of data. In at least one embodiment, incoming voice calls are accurately identified as having been made to either the registered number for the device or an alternate number. In addition, in at least one embodiment, when a voice call is received at a device, the phone number, name, and/or other contact information for the originator of the call is/are provided to the user of the device. In at least one embodiment, any or all of these pieces of information can be provided to the user of the device for every incoming voice call.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A computer-implemented method for handling a voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising, at a device having native voice call functionality:
receiving a message indicating that a voice call has been made from a caller to an alternate telephone number associated with the device;
responsive to receiving the message, automatically altering a stored contact record associated with a pilot number;
receiving a voice call forwarded to the device via a server using the pilot number;
responsive to receiving the call, automatically displaying information from the altered contact record; and
responsive to a user accepting the call, establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the message further comprises caller identification pertaining to the caller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the caller identification comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a caller telephone number; and
a caller name.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call comprises establishing a voice connection between the caller and the device using the native voice calling functionality of the device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein altering the stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises altering the record to identify a call as being directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein altering the stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises adding text to a name field in the record to identify a call as being directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein altering a stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises altering an image in the record to include a graphical indication that a call was directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The computer-implemented method of claim 7, wherein the graphical indication comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a logo;
a brand name;
a text indicator;
a distinctive visual attribute; and
a distinctive color.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein altering a stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises altering an image in the record to combine an image representing the caller with a graphical indication that a call was directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The computer-implemented method of claim 9, wherein the graphical indication comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a logo;
a brand name;
a text indicator;
a distinctive visual attribute; and
a distinctive color.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:
upon completion of the voice call, restoring the stored contact record associated with the pilot number to its previous state.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving a message comprises receiving a push notification.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the step of automatically displaying information from the altered contact record is performed by the native voice calling functionality of the device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a mobile device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a wireless phone.

### Claim 16

A computer-implemented method for handling a voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising:
at a server, receiving a call made from a caller to a telephone number;
at a processor associated with the server, identifying the called number as an alternate number associated with a device having native voice call functionality;
at the processor, identifying a registered number associated with the called alternate number;
transmitting a message from the server to the device associated with the alternate number, the message comprising an indication of the called alternate number, so as to enable the device to display an indication that the call was placed to the alternate number; and
using a pilot number associated with the server, forwarding the voice call from the caller to the registered number.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the message further comprises caller identification pertaining to the caller.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the caller identification comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a caller telephone number; and
a caller name.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein forwarding the voice call to the registered number comprises establishing a connection to facilitate a voice call between the caller and the device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein transmitting a message comprises transmitting a push notification.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the device comprises a mobile device.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The computer-implemented method of claim 16, wherein the device comprises a wireless phone.

### Claim 23

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for handling a voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor on a device having native voice call functionality, perform the steps of:
receiving a message indicating that a voice call has been made from a caller to an alternate telephone number associated with the device;
responsive to receiving the message, automatically altering a stored contact record associated with a pilot number;
receiving a voice call forwarded to the device via a server using the pilot number;
responsive to receiving the call, causing a display to automatically display information from the altered contact record; and
responsive to a user accepting the call, causing the device to establish a voice connection to proceed with the voice call.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the message further comprises caller identification pertaining to the caller.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the caller identification comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a caller telephone number; and
a caller name.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call comprises establishing a voice connection between the caller and the device using the native voice calling functionality of the device.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein altering the stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises altering the record to identify a call as being directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein altering the stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises adding text to a name field in the record to identify a call as being directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein altering a stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises altering an image in the record to include a graphical indication that a call was directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the graphical indication comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a logo;
a brand name;
a text indicator;
a distinctive visual attribute; and
a distinctive color.

### Claim 31 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein altering a stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises altering an image in the record to combine an image representing the caller with a graphical indication that a call was directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 32 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, further comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor on a device having native voice call functionality, perform the step of:
upon completion of the voice call, restoring the stored contact record associated with the pilot number to its previous state.

### Claim 33 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein receiving a message comprises receiving a push notification.

### Claim 34 (depends on 23)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein causing a display to automatically display information from the altered contact record is performed by the native voice calling functionality of the device.

### Claim 35

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for handling a voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising instructions stored thereon, that when executed by a processor on a server, perform the steps of:
receiving a call made from a caller to a telephone number;
identifying the called number as an alternate number associated with a device having native voice call functionality;
identifying a registered number associated with the called alternate number;
causing a message to be transmitted from the server to the device associated with the alternate number, the message comprising an indication of the called alternate number, so as to enable the device to display an indication that the call was placed to the alternate number; and
using a pilot number associated with the server, causing the voice call from the caller to be forwarded to the registered number.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein the message further comprises caller identification pertaining to the caller.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the caller identification comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a caller telephone number; and
a caller name.

### Claim 38 (depends on 35)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein causing the voice call from the caller to be forwarded to the registered number comprises establishing a connection to facilitate a voice call between the caller and the device.

### Claim 39 (depends on 35)

The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 35, wherein causing a message to be transmitted comprises causing a push notification to be transmitted.

### Claim 40

A system for handling a voice call to an alternate telephone number at a device having native voice call functionality, comprising:
a communications interface, configured to receive a message indicating that a voice call has been made from a caller to an alternate telephone number associated with the device;
a storage device, configured to store contact records;
a processor, communicatively coupled to the communications interface and the storage device, configured to, responsive to receiving the message, automatically alter a stored contact record associated with a pilot number;
a voice communication component, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to receive a voice call forwarded to the device via a server using the pilot number; and
a display, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to, responsive to receiving the call, automatically display information from the altered contact record;
wherein the voice communication component is further configured to, responsive to a user accepting the call, establish a voice connection to proceed with the voice call.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein the message further comprises caller identification pertaining to the caller.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The system of claim 41, wherein the caller identification comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a caller telephone number; and
a caller name.

### Claim 43 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein establishing a voice connection to proceed with the voice call comprises establishing a voice connection between the caller and the device using the native voice calling functionality of the device.

### Claim 44 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein altering the stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises altering the record to identify a call as being directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 45 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein altering the stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises adding text to a name field in the record to identify a call as being directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 46 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein altering a stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises altering an image in the record to include a graphical indication that a call was directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 47 (depends on 46)

The system of claim 46, wherein the graphical indication comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a logo;
a brand name;
a text indicator;
a distinctive visual attribute; and
a distinctive color.

### Claim 48 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein altering a stored contact record associated with the pilot number comprises altering an image in the record to combine an image representing the caller with a graphical indication that a call was directed to an alternate number.

### Claim 49 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein the processor is further configured to, upon completion of the voice call, restore the stored contact record associated with the pilot number to its previous state.

### Claim 50 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein receiving a message comprises receiving a push notification.

### Claim 51 (depends on 40)

The system of claim 40, wherein causing a display to automatically display information from the altered contact record is performed by the native voice calling functionality of the device.

### Claim 52

At a server, a system for handling a voice call to an alternate telephone number, comprising:
a voice call component, configured to receive a call made from a caller to a telephone number;
a processor, communicatively coupled to the voice call component, configured to:
identify the called number as an alternate number associated with a device having native voice call functionality; and
identify a registered number associated with the called alternate number; and
a communications interface, communicatively coupled to the processor, configured to transmit a message from the server to the device associated with the alternate number, the message comprising an indication of the called alternate number, so as to enable the device to display an indication that the call was placed to the alternate number;
wherein the voice call component is further configured to, using a pilot number associated with the server, forward the voice call from the caller to the registered number.

### Claim 53 (depends on 52)

The system of claim 52, wherein the message further comprises caller identification pertaining to the caller.

### Claim 54 (depends on 53)

The system of claim 53, wherein the caller identification comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of:
a caller telephone number; and
a caller name.

### Claim 55 (depends on 52)

The system of claim 52, wherein forwarding the voice call from the caller to the registered number comprises establishing a connection to facilitate a voice call between the caller and the device.

### Claim 56 (depends on 52)

The system of claim 52, wherein transmitting a message comprises transmitting a push notification.