Patent ID: 7457402

Claim:
A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising: in a switching system, receiving a first message indicating a called number for a call from a caller to a first called party and processing the called number to transfer a second message indicating the called number; in a centralized processing system, receiving the second message and processing the called number to identify first route information and redirect capability for the first called party, and transferring a third message indicating the first route information and the redirect capability; in the switching system, receiving the third message and processing the first route information to initiate first communications between the caller and the first called party; in the switching system, receiving a fourth message from the first called party indicating redirect information for redirecting the call to a second called party and processing the redirect information to transfer a fifth message indicating the redirect capability and the redirect information; in the centralized processing system, receiving the fifth message and processing the redirect capability and the redirect information to identify second route information and transferring a sixth message indicating the second route information; and in the switching system, receiving the sixth message and processing the second route information to initiate second communications with the second called party.