The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 02, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 21, 1997
Deborah L. Bauer, Leesburg, VA (US);
Ross Edward Button, Carleton Place, CA;
Mike Cavanagh, Woodlawn, CA;
Susan Jane McQuigge Ernst, Gloucester, CA;
Kevin Germann, Gatineau, CA;
Ralph Holmes, Glenn Dale, MD (US);
Samuel S. Howlette, Great Falls, VA (US);
William Kayln, Kanata, CA;
Steve Sauve, Orleans, CA;
Francis C. Sommers, Ottawa, CA;
MCI Communications Corporation, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A system for maintaining a customer's telephone number when a switch from one service provider to a second provider is made interfaces with a regional customer number database to keep track of local numbers and the corresponding local service provider which services each number. Service providers interface with the database and obtain information at the telephone number level that permits individual providers to determine which carrier is providing service to which telephone number. A neutral third party maintains and administers the database allowing free access by any participating provider.