Systems And Methods For Providing Enhanced Telephone Services

Abstract

A method comprises establishing a first telephone connection between a first telephone line and a second telephone line via a switch; detecting by the switch entry of a service code from the second telephone line, the service code indicative of a request to transfer the telephone connection from the second telephone line to a third telephone line, the second telephone line and third telephone line being associated with a single user; calling the third telephone line in response to the detection of the service code; detecting whether the third telephone line has been answered; and establishing a second telephone connection between the first telephone line and the third telephone line, if the third telephone line is answered.

1 . A method comprising:
 establishing a first telephone connection between a first telephone line and a second telephone line via a switch;   detecting by the switch entry of a service code from the second telephone line, the service code indicative of a request to transfer the telephone connection from the second telephone line to a third telephone line, the second telephone line and third telephone line being associated with a single user;   calling the third telephone line in response to the detection of the service code;   detecting whether the third telephone line has been answered; and   establishing a second telephone connection between the first telephone line and the third telephone line, if the third telephone line is answered.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising disconnecting the second telephone line from the first telephone connection. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the service code includes a predetermined set of telephone tones. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the service code begins with a common prefix indicating to the switch that an instruction follows. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the common prefix includes a predetermined set of tones. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising detecting by the switch entry of ah ID code identifying the third telephone line. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ID code includes “H” to identity a home telephone line. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ID code includes “C” to identify a cellular telephone line. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ID code includes “V” to identify a voicemail. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ID code includes “M” to identify a mobile wireless telephone line. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ID code includes “P” to identify a VoIP telephone line. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the ID code includes “W” to identify a work telephone line. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising muting the telephone tones after detecting entry of the common prefix. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second telephone line and the third telephone line are linked with a common telephone number associated with the single user and with the switch. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 sending a challenge to the third telephone line; and   establishing the second telephone connection if the third telephone line satisfies the challenge.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the challenge includes a password-based challenge. 
   
   
       17 . A system comprising:
 a first telephone line associated with a first user;   a second telephone line associated with a second user;   a third telephone line associated with the second user;   a switching platform including
 a circuit for establishing a first telephone connection between the first telephone line and the second telephone line; 
 a circuit for detecting entry of a service code from the second telephone line, the service code indicative of a request to transfer the telephone connection from the second telephone line to the third telephone line; 
 a circuit for calling the third telephone line; 
 a circuit for detecting whether the third telephone line has been answered; and 
 a circuit for establishing a second telephone connection between the first telephone line and the third telephone line, if the third telephone line is answered. 
   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the switching platform further includes a circuit for disconnecting the second telephone line from the first telephone connection. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the service code includes a predetermined set of telephone tones. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the service code begins with a common prefix indicating to the switch that an instruction follows. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the common prefix includes a predetermined set of tones. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the switching platform further includes a circuit for detecting entry of an ID code identifying the third telephone line. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ID code includes “H” to identify a home telephone line. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ID code includes “C” to identify a cellular telephone line. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ID code includes “V” to identify a voicemail. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ID code includes “M” to identify a mobile wireless telephone line. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ID code includes “P” to identify a VoIP telephone line. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the ID code includes “W” to identify a work telephone line. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 20 , further comprising a circuit for muting the telephone tones alter entry of the common prefix is detected. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second telephone line and the third telephone line are linked with a common telephone number associated with the single user and with the switch. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 sending a challenge to the third telephone line; and   establishing the second telephone connection if the third telephone line satisfies the challenge.   
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the challenge includes a password-based challenge. 
   
   
       33 . A system comprising:
 means for establishing a first telephone connection between a first telephone line and a second telephone line via a switch;   means for detecting by the switch entry of a service code from the second telephone line, the service code indicative of a request to transfer the telephone connection from the second telephone line to a third telephone line, the second telephone line and third telephone line being associated with a single user;   means for calling the third telephone line in response to the detection of the service code;   means for detecting whether the third telephone line has been answered; and   means for establishing a second telephone connection between the first telephone line and the third telephone line, if the third telephone line is answered.