US Patent 7469043 Disposable telephone numbers

A system that enables a telephone service subscriber to maintain his or her privacy by providing callers with a disposable telephone number. The system comprises a database that associates the disposable telephone number with subscriber information. The system also comprises a routing device that is in communication with the database. The routing device is adapted to receive calls dialing the disposable telephone number. When a call is received by the routing device, the routing device consults the database to retrieve the subscriber information. When the subscriber information comprises a true telephone number of the subscriber, the routing device forwards the call to the true telephone number.