Importance

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Abstract

A device for enabling call forwarding instructions to be given from any telephone need be connected only to the phone line for which call forwarding service has been procured and does not require another phone line to communicate with the device. The device stores the call forwarding instructions in a recorder. The device detects the short ring that occurs on the procured service phone line when a call is forwarded and detects the long ring that occurs when call forwarding is not in effect. Upon detection of a short ring, the device seizes the procured service phone line and places a phone call to the phone line to which the previous call was forwarded. In an alternate embodiment, the device places the phone call to its own procured service phone line. In both embodiments, the device is reset to its stand-by state upon detection of a busy signal. Where a busy signal is not detected, the device transmits a signal that cancels call forwarding and triggers a timer. If another phone call is received at the device within the timing cycle of the timer and an authorization code is received, the device enables the call forwarding instructions in the recorder to be changed. If those conditions are not met the instructions in the recorder remain unchanged. Thereafter, the device twice transmits the stored call forwarding instructions to the central station and thereby reestablishes call forwarding.

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First Claim