| abstract |
A telecommunications system wherein the dialing of a directory number which has been forwarded triggers an intelligent network signal which is directed to the Internet. The signal is transmitted through the Internet to a database in the Internet. The database returns call set up directions which are used by the originating switching system to establish a voice link from the calling station to the station having the forwarded number. The intelligent network signal may be transmitted from the terminating switching system to a signal transfer point (STP) and to the Internet. Within the Internet the signal is directed to an Internet database where a forwarding number for the forwarded number is obtained. This is transmitted back to the signal switching point, which then uses the forwarding number to complete the connection. In another embodiment, where a number has been forwarded to a station that is connected only to the Internet, the Internet database may provide a domain name address. This address is then used to establish a link through the Internet between the calling and called station. In this instance the Internet handles both the signaling and the voice connections. |