Telecommunications system sequence calling

Claim 1

A method, for use in a telecommunications system, for automatically routing a call made to a particular called number in accordance with a previously stored sequence of telephone numbers, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving said sequence of telephone numbers in response to receipt of said called number, and in response to a signal supplied by said caller, routing said call to a particular one of said telephone numbers of the retrieved sequence even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number in said sequence.

Claim 2

A method, for use in a telecommunications system, for automatically routing a call made to a particular called number in accordance with a previously stored sequence of telephone numbers, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving said sequence of telephone numbers in response to receipt of said called number, and in response to a signal supplied by said caller, routing said call to a particular one of said telephone numbers of the retrieved sequence even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number in said sequence.

Claim 6

A method comprising the steps of: storing, in association with each of a plurality of subscriber telephone numbers, first and second call forwarding telephone numbers, in response to a call initiated after said storing step from a caller to a particular one of said subscriber telephone numbers extending said call to the associated first call forwarding telephone number, and in response to a signal supplied by said caller, extending said call to said second call forwarding telephone number after said call has been completed to said first call forwarding number.

Claim 7

A method comprising the steps of: storing, in association with each of a plurality of subscriber telephone numbers, first and second call forwarding telephone numbers, in response to a call initiated after said storing step from a caller to a particular one of said subscriber telephone numbers extending said call to the associated first call forwarding telephone number, and in response to a signal supplied by said caller, extending said call to said second call forwarding telephone number after said call has been completed to said first call forwarding number.

Claim 8

A method for use in a telecommunications system in which an incoming telephone call originated by a caller is routed in accordance with a sequence of telephone numbers specified by a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving said sequence of telephone numbers in response to receipt of said incoming telephone call; selecting one of said sequence of telephone numbers and routing said incoming call in accordance with the selected telephone number, responsive to a signal supplied by said caller, selecting a next one of said sequence of telephone numbers, and routing said incoming call in accordance with said next one of said sequence of telephone numbers even though the call placed to the previous selected telephone number had been completed.

Claim 9

A method for use in a telecommunications system in which an incoming telephone call originated by a caller is routed in accordance with a sequence of telephone numbers specified by a subscriber, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving said sequence of telephone numbers in response to receipt of said incoming telephone call; selecting one of said sequence of telephone numbers and routing said incoming call in accordance with the selected telephone number, responsive to a signal supplied by said caller, selecting a next one of said sequence of telephone numbers, and routing said incoming call in accordance with said next one of said sequence of telephone numbers even though the call placed to the previous selected telephone number had been completed.

Claim 10

A method for use in a telecommunications system in which a telephone call, placed by a caller from a telephone set to a subscriber by putting the telephone set in an off-hook state and by thereafter dialing a particular subscriber telephone number, is routed to a sequence of telephone numbers previously specified by said subscriber, while said telephone set is maintained in an off-hook state, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving said sequence of telephone numbers in response to said dialing of said telephone call, and in response to an indication supplied by said caller, routing said telephone call to a particular one of said telephone numbers of said sequence even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number in said sequence.

Claim 11

A method for use in a telecommunications system in which a telephone call, placed by a caller from a telephone set to a subscriber by putting the telephone set in an off-hook state and by thereafter dialing a particular subscriber telephone number, is routed to a sequence of telephone numbers previously specified by said subscriber, while said telephone set is maintained in an off-hook state, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving said sequence of telephone numbers in response to said dialing of said telephone call, and in response to an indication supplied by said caller, routing said telephone call to a particular one of said telephone numbers of said sequence even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number in said sequence.

Claim 14

A method for use in a telecommunications system of a type in which, during a single telephone call placed by a caller from a calling telephone set by dialing a particular telephone number, attempts are made to connect said calling telephone set with each location of a predetermined sequence of call forwarding locations previously specified by a subscriber associated with said particular telephone number, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving said predetermined sequence of call forwarding locations in response to said telephone call, and in response to an indication from said caller, connecting said calling telephone set to a particular one of said call forwarding locations of said sequence even if said call was completed to a previous call forwarding location of said sequence.

Claim 15

A method for use in a telecommunications system of a type in which, during a single telephone call placed by a caller from a calling telephone set by dialing a particular telephone number, attempts are made to connect said calling telephone set with each location of a predetermined sequence of call forwarding locations previously specified by a subscriber associated with said particular telephone number, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving said predetermined sequence of call forwarding locations in response to said telephone call, and in response to an indication from said caller, connecting said calling telephone set to a particular one of said call forwarding locations of said sequence even if said call was completed to a previous call forwarding location of said sequence.

Claim 18

A method of a type in which, when a telephone call to a subscriber is initiated by a caller from a calling telephone set by dialing a particular subscriber telephone number, telephone switching equipment responds to the dialing of said particular subscriber telephone number by routing the call to a sequence of telephone numbers previously specified by said subscriber, where, in said method, while a connection between said telephone switch and said calling telephone set is maintained, said telephone call is routed to a particular one of the telephone numbers of said sequence, even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number of said sequence, said telephone call being routed to said particular one of said telephone numbers in response to an indication from said caller.

Claim 19

A method of a type in which, when a telephone call to a subscriber is initiated by a caller from a calling telephone set by dialing a particular subscriber telephone number, telephone switching equipment responds to the dialing of said particular subscriber telephone number by routing the call to a sequence of telephone numbers previously specified by said subscriber, where, in said method, while a connection between said telephone switch and said calling telephone set is maintained, said telephone call is routed to a particular one of the telephone numbers of said sequence, even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number of said sequence, said telephone call being routed to said particular one of said telephone numbers in response to an indication from said caller.

Claim 23

A method for use in a telecommunications system comprising the steps of: a) establishing in response to dialing subscriber a telephone number from a calling telephone station, a connection between said calling telephone station and a telecommunications switching apparatus within said telecommunications system, b) extending a forward connection from said telecommunications switching apparatus to a first call forwarding telephone station previously specified as being associated with said subscriber telephone number so as to establish a connection between said calling telephone station and said first call forwarding telephone station, c) monitoring said connection between said calling telephone station and said telecommunications switching apparatus for an appearance on said connection of a call sequencing request from said calling telephone station, and d) if said call sequencing request does appear on said connection between said telephone station and said telecommunications switching apparatus, maintaining that connection and extending a forward connection from said telecommunications switching apparatus to a second call forwarding telephone station previously specified as being associated with said subscriber telephone number so as to establish a connection between said calling telephone station and said second call forwarding telephone station, e) steps c) and d) being carried out even after any answering by said first call forwarding telephone station in response to the extending of said forward connection thereto.

Claim 24

A method for use in a telecommunications system comprising the steps of: a) establishing in response to dialing subscriber a telephone number from a calling telephone station, a connection between said calling telephone station and a telecommunications switching apparatus within said telecommunications system, b) extending a forward connection from said telecommunications switching apparatus to a first call forwarding telephone station previously specified as being associated with said subscriber telephone number so as to establish a connection between said calling telephone station and said first call forwarding telephone station, c) monitoring said connection between said calling telephone station and said telecommunications switching apparatus for an appearance on said connection of a call sequencing request from said calling telephone station, and d) if said call sequencing request does appear on said connection between said telephone station and said telecommunications switching apparatus, maintaining that connection and extending a forward connection from said telecommunications switching apparatus to a second call forwarding telephone station previously specified as being associated with said subscriber telephone number so as to establish a connection between said calling telephone station and said second call forwarding telephone station, e) steps c) and d) being carried out even after any answering by said first call forwarding telephone station in response to the extending of said forward connection thereto.

Claim 26

A method for use in a telecommunications system in which a plurality of sequences of telephone numbers are each stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of called numbers, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving, in response to the placing of a call by a calling party to a particular one of said called numbers, the associated one of said plurality of sequences of telephone numbers; and in response to a signal supplied by said calling party, routing said call to said sequence of telephone numbers, said call being routed to a particular one of said telephone numbers of the retrieved sequence even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number in said sequence.

Claim 27

A method for use in a telecommunications system in which a plurality of sequences of telephone numbers are each stored in association with a respective one of a plurality of called numbers, the method comprising the steps of: retrieving, in response to the placing of a call by a calling party to a particular one of said called numbers, the associated one of said plurality of sequences of telephone numbers; and in response to a signal supplied by said calling party, routing said call to said sequence of telephone numbers, said call being routed to a particular one of said telephone numbers of the retrieved sequence even if said call was completed to a previous telephone number in said sequence.