Patent ID: 7106846

Claim:
A telephone network, comprising: a first service switching point being operable to receive a feature code and a called directory number input by a calling party placing a call, and to issue a query in response to receiving the feature code; and a service control point in communication with the first service switching point over a first communication path, the service control point being operable to receive the query and issue a response to the first service switching point, the response including a distinctive ring parameter; wherein upon receiving the response from the service control point the first service switching point processes the call so that the distinctive ring parameter causes a distinctive ring signal to be applied to a called telephone line associated with the called directory number; wherein the first service switching point further operable to receive an authorization code, and include the authorization code in the query; and the service control point is further operable to determine whether the authorization code is valid or invalid, and provides the distinctive ring parameter only upon determining that the authorization code is valid; wherein the authorization code is a unique code associated with the calling party, and is generated automatically or determined by the calling party upon subscribing to a distinctive ring control service.