Patent ID: 6427010
Filing Date: 2002-07-30
Classification: H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
In a switched communications network comprising:a first central office switching system serving a calling party, a second central office switching system serving a called party having a ported number, a third central office switching system serving a voice mail system, and an interoffice signaling system, a method comprising: receiving the ported number from the calling party in the first central office switching system; determining in the first central office switching system a network address of the second central office switching system based on a translation table access using the ported number; detecting in the second central office switching system a condition relating to the ported number requiring forwarding for a voice mailbox of the called party; sending a first signaling message via the interoffice signaling system to the third central office switching system including the ported number; establishing a switched communication link for the calling party through the third central office switching system to the voice mail system; supplying the ported number to the voice mail system; and providing the calling party communication with the voice mailbox for the called party in the voice mail system, based on the ported number supplied to the voice mail system.