Patent ID: 6529596
Filing Date: 2003-03-04
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A method performed by a user of a public switched telephone network (PSTN), said user having a communications device, said method comprising:accessing a remote tandem access controller (TAC) via the Internet by said user, said TAC within the PSTN being directly connected to a PSTN tandem switch for a local service area with respect to said user, said TAC for processing incoming calls from a calling party, via said tandem switch, intended to be received by said user's communications device; selecting features via the Internet to be applied by said TAC to said incoming calls, wherein said TAC receives a first call from a calling party intended for said user's communication device and processes said first call in accordance with said features, said method performed by said user further comprising: receiving a second call from said TAC, via said tandem switch, after said first call has been processed by said TAC in accordance with said features selected; and answering said second call to cause said TAC to complete a communications link between said calling party and said user.