Call forwarding system and method

Claim 1

A call forwarding control apparatus for use on a subscriber telephone line connected to a central office of a type which causes a call forwarding function (1) to be activated in response to provision of a predetermined first code sequence applied together with a destination telephone number on the line to the central office, and (2) to be deactivated in response to provision of a predetermined second code sequence on the line to the central office, and wherein the central office provides particular ring back signals in response to an incoming call when call forwarding is activated and otherwise provides usual ring back signals, said apparatus comprising: memory means storing said predetermined first and second code sequences and having means for storing call forwarding telephone numbers; means for prestoring in said memory means a first call forwarding telephone number and for registering said first call forwarding telephone number with the central office; means for receiving an incoming call from a caller and for detecting a hang up of said telephone upon reception by the caller of a first one of said particular ring back signals from the central office indicating that call forwarding is activated, said hang up by the caller of said telephone cancelling forwarding of said incoming call; means responsive to said hang up detected by said receiving and detecting means for auto-dialing the caller at the prestored telephone number; means for storing in the memory means a second call forwarding telephone number sent on the line by the caller; and means controllable by the caller for selectively (a) transferring the second call forwarding telephone number together with the predetermined first code sequence to the central office for replacing said first call forwarding telephone number therein by said second call forwarding telephone number, or (b) transferring said predetermined second code sequence to said central office for deactivating said call forwarding function.