Patent ID: 7567663

Claim:
A telephone call processing method comprising the steps of: (i) receiving a telephone call for transfer to a first telephone number; (ii) determining whether the first telephone number has been set to divert calls to a second telephone number; and (iii) processing the call based on a result of the determination of step (ii); wherein step (ii) also includes determining whether the first telephone number is in use and, if the first telephone number has been set to divert calls, the number of the second telephone; and determining whether the diversion is immediate or takes place only if the first number does not answer after a predetermined period; when step (ii) determines that the first telephone number is not in use, that the first telephone number is diverted, and that the diversion only takes place after said predetermined period, step (iii) comprises the sub-steps of (a) monitoring the first number; (b) in the event that the first number does not answer within the predetermined period, determining whether the second telephone number is included in a list of permitted diversions from the first telephone number; and (c) processing the call in dependence upon the determination of sub-step (b); when sub-step (b) determines that the second number is included in the list of permitted diversions from the first telephone number, sub-step (c) comprises initiating transfer of the call to the second telephone number; and, when sub-step (b) determines that the second telephone number is not included in the list of permitted diversions from the first telephone number, sub-step (c) comprises one of initiating transfer of the call to a number that is included in the list, and presenting the caller with a list of options selectable by the caller.