VIRTUAL PHONE NUMBERS FOR TOPIC AND PRIORITY
Ariel Sachter-Zeltzer, Alexander Faaborg · 2016
A system of virtual phone numbers based on topic and priority is disclosed. The system helps the user to anonymously route a call out so that their own information is not exposed to an unknown party. The user may select a virtual phone number relating to a particular context so that he may be called even if he is not ordinarily available for contact. The advantages of the system of virtual phone numbers is the possibility of setting priority by topic to receive calls from even unknown numbers and to anonymously make outgoing calls. BACKGROUND Users configure their devices to allow certain contacts to always be able to reach them, even if they have indicated that they otherwise do not want to be disturbed. However, this relies on the caller contacting the user through a known phone number. If the caller borrows a phone and makes a call, the system may block their ability to contact from the borrowed phone. Conversely, the user may want to give out his phone number to someone else but not want to be interrupted by them, and would like the call to be directed to voicemail. If a call is received from an unknown number the user may have to guess the category of the call to decide whether to pick it up. Virtual phone numbers are proposed to solve the above problems.