Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of porting for use with local number portability comprising the steps of: providing a subscriber with a reference identification number in response to receiving from the subscriber a directory number that the subscriber desires to port; receiving from the subscriber a porting request to port the directory number; collecting porting data necessary to effect the porting request, the porting data comprising the reference identification number and the directory number to be ported; verifying that the collected reference identification number is associated with the subscriber of the directory number to be ported to thereby authorize initiating the porting request; and effecting porting of the directory number in response to successful verification of the collected reference identification number being associated with the subscriber of the directory number to be ported.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A method of porting for use with local number portability comprising the steps of: providing a subscriber with a reference identification number in response to receiving from the subscriber a directory number that the subscriber desires to port; receiving from the subscriber a porting request to port the directory number; collecting porting data necessary to effect the porting request, the porting data comprising the reference identification number and the directory number to be ported; verifying that the collected reference identification number is associated with the subscriber of the directory number to be ported to thereby authorize initiating the porting request; and effecting porting of the directory number in response to successful verification of the collected reference identification number being associated with the subscriber of the directory number to be ported.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 1 wherein the porting request is to port the directory number from a first service provider to a second service provider and the step of effecting porting of the directory number is from the first service provider to the second service provider.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second service provider provides the subscriber with the reference identification number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 2 including the step of collecting, from the first service provider, custom calling information associated with the directory number to be ported.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 4 wherein the custom calling information is collected by a third party and a further step of sending the collected custom calling information on to the second service provider is provided for by the third party.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 2, wherein the porting request is received over a telephone line.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 2, wherein a third party collects the porting data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 1 wherein the porting request is received over a telephone line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 1 wherein a third party collects the porting data.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of porting for use with local number portability comprising the steps of: receiving over a telephone line a porting request to port a directory number; collecting porting data necessary to effect the porting request, the porting data comprising the directory number to be ported; identifying the directory number associated with the telephone line using Automatic Number Identification (ANI); verifying that the identified directory number is the directory number requested to be ported; and effecting porting of the directory number to be ported in response to successful verification of the identified directory number being the directory number to be ported.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of porting for use with local number portability comprising the steps of: receiving over a telephone line a porting request to port a directory number; collecting porting data necessary to effect the porting request, the porting data comprising the directory number to be ported; identifying the directory number associated with the telephone line using Automatic Number Identification (ANI); verifying that the identified directory number is the directory number requested to be ported; and effecting porting of the directory number to be ported in response to successful verification of the identified directory number being the directory number to be ported.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
103 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 10 further comprising the steps of: providing a subscriber with a personal identification number; the step of collecting further includes collecting the personal identification number; providing an additional verification that the collected personal identification number is associated with the subscriber of the directory number to be ported; and effecting porting of the directory number to be ported in response to successful verification of the identified directory number being the directory number to be ported and successful verification of the collected personal identification number being associated with the subscriber of the directory number to be ported.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 11, wherein the porting request is to port the directory number from a first service provider to a second service provider and the steps of effecting porting of the directory number are from the first service provider to the second service provider.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 10 wherein the porting request is to port the directory number from a first service provider to a second service provider and the step of effecting porting of the directory number is from the first service provider to the second service provider.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 13 wherein the second service provider provides a subscriber with a personal identification number.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 14 wherein a third party collects from the subscriber the porting data.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the step of collecting, from the first service provider, custom calling information associated with the directory number to be ported.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method of porting as claimed in claim 16 wherein the custom calling information is collected by a third party and a further step of sending the collected custom calling information on to the second service provider is provided for by the third party.