Lucent Technologies Inc.

Anthony T Ackerman

Rickie E Meis

Barry E Weiss

Richard K Lee

Calls redirected off-net, which includes call forwarding and call coverage, is provided at the switch to which the call is initially directed (the principal party's switch), by monitoring the redirected off-net connection with a call classifier and listening for the appearance of ringback tone and the appearance of voice frequency energy. The call is allowed to be completed to the off-net covering end-point if voice frequency energy is detected before ringback tone appears or if voice frequency energy appears within a predetermined time-out interval. If ringback tone continues beyond a time-out interval, if voice-frequency energy is not detected within the time-out interval, or if a call progress tone other than ringback is detected, further processing of the call is continued at the principal party's switch to determine if another covering point is listed. If no other coverage point is listed, monitoring of the call continues until the calling party hangs up. A simulated bridged appearance is maintained at the originating switch to allow the call to be picked up at the covered station at any time.

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Colts Neck, NJ, United States of America

Anthony T Ackerman