At+t Corp.

Other

Steven T Heinsius

Margaret H Redberg

Antoinette Rule

Edite M Hanlon

Tejanand Sarju

Michael M Winseck, Jr

Rise J Frankel

Rajat Chanda

Steven F Knittel

Margaret A Burd

William G Kuchenbecker

Gary D Walden

Arnold Chester McQuaide, Jr

Judith L Sherman

Hani M Dib

Mrinalini Natarajan

A re-directing party (14) may transfer call-specific data to a target party (16) via a telecommunications network (10) in connection with the re-direction of a telephone call by the network between the parties. To transfer the call-specific data, the re-directing party transmits an out-of-band message containing the data to the network. The network forwards the data in an out-of-band message to the target party. The message may be one that effects call set-up to the target party or call termination by the re-directing party. Alternatively, the message may be of the type that effects data transfer during the call itself.

Method for transferring call-specific data between called parties

A telecommunications method is disclosed for processing calling party information so that an '800' or toll-free telephone number or a value-added service telephone number made up of a special service code followed by 7 digits indicating an ultimate destination for the call can be directly provided by a foreign telecommunication administration and processed by a domestic telecommunication administration without the need for the originating foreign telecommunication administration to pass a country identifier or other carrier specific information as part of the dialed number. Additionally, the method provides for a blocking condition which allows calls from certain foreign locations to the dialed number to be blocked.

International toll-free calling process

Calls made to an 800 service subscriber are routed to the subscriber's primary location via a telephone network switch operating in conjunction with a specially configured adjunct processor. The adjunct processor is arranged to monitor the call even after it is answered by an attendant or other subscriber personnel at the primary location. If the call is to be redirected from the primary location to an alternate location, the adjunct is signaled, typically by a DTMF sequence. The adjunct responds by putting the calling party on hold and by initiating a call to the alternate location on an outgoing trunk of the network switch, in such a way that it emulates or imitates both the routing (call treatment) and billing the characteristics of a call made from the original customer location. Redirection can then be completed in one of three ways: blind transfer, consultation, or conference. Billing for the call is arranged so that the subscriber of the 800 number originally dialed by the calling party at the customer location pays only for the portion of the call in which the primary location is actively involved in communications with the calling party. The subscriber providing the 800 number for the alternate location pays for the portion of the call in which the alternate location is involved, as though the call originated from the customer's location and proceeded directly to the alternate location, without having been rerouted at the network switch. Thus, the subscriber is not charged for any period of time which is not 'used' by that subscriber.