Patent ID: 7266190

Claim:
A method for establishing preferences for a communications service and for providing the communications service comprising the steps of: receiving identifying data from a probable subscriber of a service through computer interface system; determining if the probable subscriber is a valid subscriber by comparing the identifying data to an identifying-data record; if the probable subscriber is a valid subscriber, sending stored and default information to the subscriber through the computer interface system, wherein the stored and default information is displayed to the subscriber on a graphical user interface (GUI) executing on a computer and comprises at least encumbered-line bypass list data, forwarding numbers, an on/off setting for the entire communications service and links to one or more other available services, wherein further the encumbered-line bypass list data comprises bypass times for one or more phone numbers and one or more pass-codes; receiving a second item of information from the subscriber through the computer interface system, wherein the second item of information is related to a calling party that has been preselected to by-pass an encumbered line; and storing the second item of information in a database accessible by a communications network thereby updating the stored and default information.