Patent ID: 7630483

Claim:
With respect to a communication from a caller to a subscriber's directory number where the communication has been terminated to a voice mail system (VMS) of the subscriber instead of the communication having been terminated to terminating equipment associated with the subscriber's directory number, a system for transferring the communication from the VMS so the VMS is no longer involved in the communication, the system comprising: a service switching point (SSP) operative to receive a message indicating a release of the communication by the VMS, the message also indicating at least an action to be taken with respect to the communication, and the SSP also operative to provide the message to a service control point (SCP); and the SCP operative, in response to receipt of the message from the SSP, to direct that the action be taken with respect to the communication, whereby the communication, which had been terminated to the VMS, is released from the VMS and is acted upon without further involvement of the VMS with the communication.