Importance

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Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing an on-site 800 number customer-made determination of a further action to be taken in response to a caller dialing an 800 number associated with the 800 number customer. A system 10 includes apparatus for receiving from an 800 number network provider Host processor 26 information expressive of an occurrence of a caller having dialed an 800 telephone number. The system 10 further includes apparatus for determining at a customer's Host processor 12 an action to be taken in response to the caller having dialed the 800 telephone number. The system also includes apparatus for transmitting from the customer's Host processor to the network provider's Host processor 26 information expressive of the determined action to be taken in response to the caller having dialed the 800 telephone number. The information received by the customer's Host processor includes an identification of the caller as provided by the caller's billing telephone number. The determined action may be to deny or to accept the call. If the call is accepted the customer's Host 12 determines a destination phone number that is provided to the network provider's Host processor for further transmission to the caller's local Host processor.

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First Claim