Patent ID: 7177414
Filing Date: 2007-02-13
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
1. A call forwarding system implemented as a service to a called party by a telephone service provider of the called party, the called party wishing to have a call thereto from a calling party forwarded to a destination station, the call forwarding system including: switching means for receiving the call from the calling party and in response thereto for issuing a request for call processing instructions; control means for receiving the call processing instructions request and in response thereto for checking with the destination station to which the call is to be forwarded to determine the availability thereof; and determining means for determining, prior to forwarding the call, whether a user of the destination station to which the call is to be forwarded accepts or rejects the call that is to be forwarded, the determination whether a user of the destination station accepts or rejects the call being made even if the destination station is determined to be available, the control means returning call processing instructions to the switching means including a telephone number of the destination station if the destination station is available and the user of the destination station accepts the call, and the control means returning alternative call processing instructions to the switching means if the destination station is not available or the user of the destination station rejects the call.